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If some of the names on the NZ Super Rugby team sheets announced yesterday sound familiar, it’s because they are. At the risk of making a few people out there feel a bit old, we can now announce we’ve officially reached the stage of the competition where we can get used to the sons of former players regularly popping up – some even in the teams their dads used to play for.
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Here’s some of the second generation of pro rugby players that we can look forward to seeing in 2018:
Jackson Garden-Bachop, Hurricanes
The son of former All Black, Hurricanes, Highlanders and Otago first five Stephen Bachop and Black Fern Sue Garden-Bachop, Jackson was a highly rated prospect in the Wellington school scene while at Scots College. After playing for the NZ Schoolboys and under-20’s, he had one season at the lowly Melbourne Rebels earlier this year. His recent form for the Wellington Mitre 10 Cup side made him hard to leave out of the Hurricanes, but he’ll have a tough time seeing much action at first five considering he’s got Beauden Barrett in front of him – fitting, given that the Barretts were the first ever father/sons Super Rugby combination themselves.
Ethan Blackadder, Crusaders
No pressure at all Ethan – your old man was not only an All Black captain but also the captain, then coach, of the team you’ve just been drafted into. Father Todd Blackadder lifted the Super Rugby trophy in 1998, 1999 and 2000 – then went on to coach the side for eight years. The younger Blackadder has been in impressive form for Tasman in the Mitre 10 Cup, helping them reach a second consecutive final against Canterbury. The big loose forward may well find himself in the starting line for the champions too, lining up alongside the likes of Kieran Read and Matt Todd.
Caleb Clarke, Blues
At 107 kgs, it’s no wonder the son of All Black, Blues and Auckland stalwart Eroni Clarke caused such a splash at the World Under 20’s tournament earlier this year. He is the most youthful component of a (once again) youthful Blues squad, in fact he’s the youngest contracted player at only 18. The Blues are certainly a very different side to when his dad was playing, Clarke Senior was part of two championship sides in the first couple of years in the competition. What they wouldn’t give for that sort of pedigree now, so the potentially desperate situation they may find themselves in could give Caleb Clarke the opportunity he needs.
Bryn Gatland, Blues
While his dad managed to almost pull off an unlikely series win over the All Blacks as coach of the British & Irish Lions earlier this season, Bryn Gatland managed to make a name for himself on the tour as well. Playing for the NZ Barbarians, Gatland grabbed the attention of the media – however this will actually be his second season in Super Rugby after breaking into the Blues squad last year. It’ll be an interesting battle for the number 10 jersey between him, new signing Daniel Kirkpatrick and the highly rated Stephen Perofeta. Warren Gatland will most definitely be watching on with interest from Wales, where he would’ve seen Bryn put in an impressive season for North Harbour in the Mitre 10 Cup recently.
