Famous Rugby Player's Parents

Just for a change of gear, now that the rugby is largely done and dusted...

The old nature versus nurture argument came up in my mind a couple of weeks back, whilst reading this article about Neville Carter flying to London watch his famous son Dan bring up his 100th test for the All Blacks.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11158008

I was thinking about the story of DC growing up as a shy kid in small town NZ, his parent's erecting goal posts in the back yard so he could hone his ambition to be an All Black one day. The things parent's do for their kids. Could they have thought that one day, Dan would be heralded as the greatest first five eighths ever to play the game? It must be harsh for parent's to read the kind of criticisms of their kids written in the papers and on internet forums like this one when a game goes wrong, or a vital kick is missed, intercept try scored or kick charged down.

Luckily, the vociferous media organisations still seem to largely treat parent's as a protected species, a line too far. I can recall just a handful of articles where relatives have been bothered by prying media. Quade Cooper, for example, on his RWC endeavour in NZ cast the media spotlight on his Kiwi grandmother.

However, for this reason we largely know very little about the kind of upbringings the superstars of the game have, unless they release a biography at some point. This makes it difficult to have any perspective into the kind of influences that might help fashion a future star from the young days.

Anybody have any stories or light to shed on this one? For example, anybody know how Leigh Halfpenny, Johnny Sexton, Duncan Weir or Owen Farrell's parent's influenced their career?

Watching George North's dad come onto the pitch to punch his kid in the shoulder when he scored a try…can't remember the game but it was awesome and i had a lump in my throat. He was bundled off by the stewards and i am not sure George saw him but is it any wonder George reached the top with a dad that motivated.

Crikey. You don't hear a lot about hot housed rugby kids in that regard, like you do with crazy American beauty show "mom's" for example.

the Underwood twins were another example, their mum was always sat in the stands and would get a close up pre match….she was a scary looking lady of oriental origin, reckon the boys got so fast running away from her wielding meat cleaver.

Scratch wrote:Watching George North's dad come onto the pitch to punch his kid in the shoulder when he scored a try…can't remember the game but it was awesome and i had a lump in my throat. He was bundled off by the stewards and i am not sure George saw him but is it any wonder George reached the top with a dad that motivated.

was it against France in the 6N?

nothing beats Harinordoquy's dad when it comes to help his kid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ_kTOX0E6I

Scratch wrote:Watching George North's dad come onto the pitch to punch his kid in the shoulder when he scored a try…can't remember the game but it was awesome and i had a lump in my throat. He was bundled off by the stewards and i am not sure George saw him but is it any wonder George reached the top with a dad that motivated.

English passion  

GloriousEmpire wrote:Anybody have any stories or light to shed on this one? For example, anybody know how Leigh Halfpenny, Johnny Sexton, Duncan Weir or Owen Farrell's parent's influenced their career?

It was Halfpenny's grandad rather than his dad who had the biggest influence on him, so I've heard. Drove him everywhere, stayed out with him for kicking practice and so on. And he gave him his defensive mantra: 'none shall pass.'

A famous rugby player to have an infamous Dad is Sean Fitzparick. Dad Brian was never let forget that he was in the last team (1935) of 15 New Zealanders to lose to Wales.

Oi, it was '53, not '35! It's been a long time, but not that long!

Honestly, sorry Luckless it wasnt a wind up, you are right it was 1953. Dyslexia ?

It's a date we don't forget!

I was trying to assist your amnesia, by pushing it 15years further into history!!! and what happens?? you correct me..

The sooner it becomes the last-but-one time we beat the All Blacks, the better!

Sexton's uncle played for Garryowen, Munster and Ireland. Maybe he influenced his career. Who knows.

GunsGerms wrote:Sexton's uncle played for Garryowen, Munster and Ireland. Maybe he influenced his career. Who knows.

Im sure he did, What position did he play?

Ben Cohen has a RWC 2003 medal.
Uncle George Cohen has a 1966 Football WC medal.

Two code World Cups in one English family.

Brynmor Williams has influenced Lloyd Williams's career. It's given him a guaranteed spot in the Wales squad even though there are at least two better alternatives.

A lot of young lads with ex-pro rugby player fathers seem to be breaking into pro rugby lately in Wales. The players are not quite famous themselves yet, but their dads are (mainly in Wales).

Sons of Lyn Jones (Dragons coach), Kingsley Jones (Dragons coach), Nigel Davies (Scarlet and Gloucester coach), Dai Young (Blues/Wasps coach), Steve Lewis (WRU), Mike Ruddock (although his are a bit more established in Ireland) - all play in the Wales U20s and regional rugby set ups. Jobs for the boys (literally)?! There's a few more that I'm sure I've forgotten too.

The you have slightly older/more established ones like Kuli Faletau and Fe'ao Vunipola - both big in valleys rugby in the 90s!

aucklandlaurie wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Sexton's uncle played for Garryowen, Munster and Ireland. Maybe he influenced his career. Who knows.

Im sure he did, What position did he play?

Think he was a flanker. O'Driscoll's dad also played rugby and just missed out on Ireland caps.

Ben and Tom Youngs' dad (Nick) played for Leicester and England.

All three have beaten NZ. Not many families in the NH can say that

Cyril wrote:Ben and Tom Youngs' dad (Nick) played for Leicester and England.

All three have beaten NZ. Not many families in the NH can say that

I'd not heard that before. What a nice bit of trivia - future pub quiz material. Very satisfying for the Youngs family I'm sure.

Cyril..  nice one, what a family record.

Luke Fitzgerald's father Des played prop for Ireland and got 38 caps. Des played in Irelands other most disapointing loss of all time when Ireland lost to Australia in the 1991 world cup. Luke Fitzgerald came on as a sub in Ireland's loss to NZ on Sunday.

Hennie Bekker, Flippie van der Merwe & Gysie Pienaar played against NZ in NZ on the 12th Sept 1981.

their sons Andries Bekker, Flip van der Merwe & Ruan Pienaar played against NZ in NZ on the 15th Sept 2012 nearly 31 years to the day later.

fa0019 wrote:Hennie Bekker, Flippie van der Merwe & Gysie Pienaar played against NZ in NZ on the 12th Sept 1981.

their sons Andries Bekker, Flip van der Merwe & Ruan Pienaar played against NZ in NZ on the 15th Sept 2012 nearly 31 years to the day later.

Thats pretty cool.

The Quinnell family is the closest we have to a rugby dynasty in Wales: Derek Quinnell was a Wales legend and represented the Lions, Scott Quinnell was a wales and lions legend, Craig Quinell played for Wales and other brother Gavin (the biggest of the 3 brothers) played pro rugby before early retirement due to losing an eye on the field . Their uncle is Barry John and Scott Quinell's godfather is Merv 'The Swerve' Davies.

Or you could say it's all a bit inbred!

GunsGerms wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Sexton's uncle played for Garryowen, Munster and Ireland. Maybe he influenced his career. Who knows.

Im sure he did, What position did he play?

Think he was a flanker. O'Driscoll's dad also played rugby and just missed out on Ireland caps.

Willie Sexton was a flanker. Sexton's father was a scrumhalf for Bective.

John O'Driscoll (one of the all time greats) is BOD's uncle.

Kieran Read and Carl Froch are related somehow. I think they are faces in law.

Submachine wrote:Kieran Read and Carl Froch are related somehow. I think they are faces in law.

Surely Kieran Read is 'faces in law' with the actor Michael Rapaport?!?!?! Likes brothers!

Griff wrote:

Submachine wrote:Kieran Read and Carl Froch are related somehow. I think they are faces in law.

Surely Kieran Read is 'faces in law' with the actor Michael Rapaport?!?!?!  Likes brothers!

Each to his own...

Whoops!

Tom & Ben Youngs Grandfather made a set of posts out of irrigation pipe & put in the garden

Disturbing article in the Fail today about an SA family being prosecuted of reattempt murder for pushing their child as an athlete. Shocking IF true.

Off rugby I know but everyones (almost everyones) fave snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivans dad supported his son by murdering someone in a night club and going away for 10 years, having him visit with his first major trophy at 18, then asking that he keep playing so he can get to see him on tv!

With that and visiting his mother in another prison for tax evasion was ideal for the champion he is today... 

Is Halfpenny a twin?...saw that somewhere..

No, its Sam Warburton who is a twin. His brother is a physio. His parents live near mine in cardiff. very ordinary family, just a gifted natural athlete. I think that need to win is just born in you, that elite athletes are born with that burning desire to win and punish themselves to win. same for successful businessmen. Its coaches, parents and teachers who enable the talent to be successful I guess.

I studied High Abilities at University, quite often exceptional people in whatever field ar motivated by loss of some kind, usually a parent. The simple theory being that if you lose your parent at a young age you become more motivated to live a life they would have been proud of.

Though currently a trend for brothers playing international rugby is emerging :
Du plessis for the Boks
Franks and the Whitelocks for AB's
Kearneys for Ireland
Tomkins for England ( different codes I know )
Vunipolas and Youngs for England

just wondering why wales, Scotland and Australia aren't picking any brothers at the moment ?

But plenty in the past - Gavin and scott hastings, Craig and Scott Quinnell, Tony and Rory Underwood, Mark and Glen Ella, Zinzan and Robin Brooke, Gary and Alan Whetton, the Tuilagi clan, Graham and stephen Bachop ( representing japan, samoa and NZ ! )and probably many more that I have forgotten or don't know.

Bluedragon wrote:Though currently a trend for brothers playing international rugby is emerging :
Du plessis for the Boks
Franks and the Whitelocks for AB's
Kearneys for Ireland
Tomkins for England ( different codes I know )
Vunipolas and Youngs for England

just wondering why wales, Scotland and Australia aren't picking any brothers at the moment ?

But plenty in the past - Gavin and scott hastings, Craig and Scott Quinnell, Tony and Rory Underwood, Mark and Glen Ella, Zinzan and Robin Brooke, Gary and Alan Whetton, the Tuilagi clan, Graham and stephen Bachop ( representing japan, samoa and NZ ! )and probably many more that I have forgotten or don't know.

Richie and Johnny Gray currently for Scotland; recently the Evans and Lamont brothers; Calders, etc., etc. Forty-odd sets of brothers in all, I think. Not all played in the same team, though.

Aside from Farrell, how many other players have been coached by their parent at international level?

GloriousEmpire wrote:Aside from Farrell, how many other players have been coached by their parent at international level?

Rhys Ruddock & Mike Ruddock at Ireland under20 level.

Bluedragon wrote:
just wondering why wales, Scotland and Australia aren't picking any brothers at the moment ?

But plenty in the past - Gavin and scott hastings, Craig and Scott Quinnell, Tony and Rory Underwood, Mark and Glen Ella, Zinzan and Robin Brooke, Gary and Alan Whetton, the Tuilagi clan, Graham and stephen Bachop ( representing japan, samoa and NZ ! )and probably many more that I have forgotten or don't know.

And not to forget the Cockbain brothers, one who played for the Wallabies and one for the Welsh side!

Balshaw for England was alleged to have been Brian Ashton's boy ... although that was said toungue in cheek... if the Mods allow that kind of expression on here. And at club level (ok you didn't ask) but you have the Fords at Bath.

Declan Kidney and ROG.

 

vanessia feltz and Richard hibbard

GunsGerms wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Sexton's uncle played for Garryowen, Munster and Ireland. Maybe he influenced his career. Who knows.

Im sure he did, What position did he play?

Think he was a flanker. O'Driscoll's dad also played rugby and just missed out on Ireland caps.

I heard a story recently that in one of Drico's earlier games his dad was so vocal with his pitch side "encouragement", that one of the other Irish internationals parents knocked him out....

Was it Trevor Brennan's dad? Just kidding, seems a very unlikely story.

Heard it from one of the Irish players so I'm guessing there is some truth in it.... apparently he was always winding the other players/supporters up with his pitch side antics... was shouting abuse aimed towards one of the other Irish players and got clocked one or something like that...