Chips off the old block... The young guns doing dad proud by keeping up rugby family traditions
IT is an incredibly proud moment for parents when their child decides to follow the same career path as they did.
And rugby players are no different. Not every rugby player’s child goes on to play professionally – or at all – but occasionally the rugby gene does get passed down.
Here are some of the next generation of rugby stars with some famous fathers – as well as a few established stars you may already know about.
Cai Evans
THE son of Llanelli, Wales and Lions great Ieuan Evans, Cai started out as a winger just like his elusive father.
However, he slowly moved infield and made a name for himself with Wales Under-18s as a fly-half.
The 18-year-old is with the Ospreys Under-18s and featured for Wales Under-20s during the 2018 Six Nations.
Carwyn Tuipulotu
THE son of former Tonga international Kati Tuipulotu, excitement is building around young battering ram Carwyn after he chose to play for Wales Under-18s.
Having come through the academy at Newcastle, he is set to join the Scarlets next season and a senior Wales cap is expected to follow.
Max Llewellyn
HIS dad, Gareth, is a former Wales captain who won 92 caps for his country at lock.
Max may have been blessed with his father’s height, but the Wales Under-20s star prefers playing in the centre rather than the engine room where his dad resided.
Billy McBryde
ANOTHER who didn’t quite follow in his old man’s footsteps when it came to choosing his position.
Dad Robin won 37 caps as a hooker, while Billy has played seven times for the Under-20s side – as a fly-half.
Owen Jenkins
THE trend continues with former Wales hooker Garin and his son Owen. While Owen does play as a wing in the 15-a-side game, he has packed down as a hooker for the Wales Sevens side.
Ifan Phillips
FORMER Neath hooker Kevin Phillips was a part of one of the most famous front rows in Welsh rugby, with teams across Britain fearing scrummaging at the Gnoll.
Son Ifan, also a hooker, will hope to be half as formidable as his father as he looks to break through at the Ospreys.
Jacob Botica
THE new Dragons recruit will be hoping to have a similar effect on Welsh rugby as his father did 20 years ago.
Former All Blacks star Frano is remembered fondly in west Wales for his stint at Llanelli and his son Jacob has already impressed at north Walian outfit RGC 1404.
Sam Moore
THERE has been a bit of a tug of war across the border for the Sale No.8, with England calling him up for the Six Nations despite plenty of interest from Wales.
He looks likely to choose the Red Rose, but his Welsh roots run deep, with father Steve and uncle Andy both pulling on the red jersey.
Alex Wood
THE son of former Ireland hooker Keith Wood, fly-half Alex shares his father’s habit of scoring tries.
However, it is questionable whether the elder Wood ever scored as stunning a try as his son did for St Munchin’s College earlier this year.
Lewis Tierney
AT first glance, you’d struggle to recognise who rugby league flyer Tierney’s father is, with the Catalan Dragons and Scotland star not sharing a surname with his legendary World Cup-winning dad.
Believe it or not, but Tierney is the son of former England dual-code international Jason Robinson, with Tierney following in his father’s footsteps by winning the Super League Grand Final with Wigan Warriors in 2016.
Josh Beaumont
DAD Bill captained England to an unlikely Grand Slam in 1980 before working his way up to being elected chairman of World Rugby after his retirement.
‘Unlikely’ and ‘Grand Slam’ don’t seem to mix anymore for England, but lock Josh could go on to emulate his father in the coming years.
Louis Lynagh
THE idea of former Australia fly-half Michael Lynagh’s son playing for anyone other than the Wallabies may seem ludicrous given what he achieved with the green and gold in his playing days.
But son Louis is progressing well in the England age-grade system having grown up in London.
Jacob Umaga
THE surname Umaga carries a lot of weight in rugby. Mike Umaga won 13 caps for Samoa, while Tana is one of the All Blacks’ most respected captains.
And it appears the name could live on with Jacob, son of Mike and nephew of Tana, who is seen as one for the future for Wasps and England.
Cameron Redpath
REDPATH junior has been making headlines in recent weeks, having been called up by England for their summer tour of South Africa.
However, he could have also chosen to play his Test rugby for Scotland with his father Bryan captaining the Scots.
Adam Hastings
FOLLOWING in the footsteps of a Scottish legend like Gavin Hastings is never going to be easy, but son Adam is doing a decent job so far.
The Glasgow Warriors fly-half, whose uncle Scott also starred for Scotland and the Lions, has looked to forge his own path in rugby and was rewarded with a call-up for Scotland’s final Six Nations match against Italy this year.
Tom de Glanville
COMES from rich stock with dad Phil a former England skipper who was capped 38 times by his country, while godfather Jon Callard was a prodigious goal-kicker for the Red Rose and Bath, having learned his trade in Newport after being a pupil at Bassaleg School.
Tom has already earned caps at Under-17 and 18 levels, and made his first start for Bath United in their 15-7 win at Gloucester United in April.
Bath’s director of rugby Todd Blackadder said afterwards: “I can definitely see him in a (senior) Bath jersey at some stage in the future.”