THE BARRETT BOYS
Good things come in threes
It’s not just Kevin and Robyn Barrett who are proud of their sons Scott and Jordie joining brother Beauden in the All Blacks’ end-of-year tour — the whole of the Taranaki is beaming.
Kevin and Robyn spent Saturday night in Auckland watching Beauden and the All Blacks before flying to Canterbury on Sunday to celebrate with Scott, 22, and Jordie, 19.
Beauden, 25, took to Twitter: “Proud day for the Barrett family. Congrats to my little brothers Scott and Jordie!”
Tim Stuck, who coached all three boys at Francis Douglas Memorial College in New Plymouth, said they had all shown potential and each had “special qualities”.
Stuck had heard from their dad Kevin after the announcement who told him they were extremely proud.
As the first XV coach, Stuck had watched their skills develop.
While Beauden showed attributes of a professional rugby player early on, it was Scott who he knew would be an All Black. “I thought this guy has an amazing skill-set. For a lock, kicking goals, footwork, everything.”
Jordie, just 19, had been away from the school for only two years but progressed quickly, Stuck said.
Along with the Barrett brothers, another former Francis Douglas student, Liam Coltman, had also been named as a hooker on the tour.
Principal Martin Chamberlain said: “This has a warm fuzzy feeling all round for the whole of the province.”
— Nikki Preston