A tribute to Les

BARBARA WHĀNAU: Barbara family members at the Gisborne Boys’ High first 15 rugby match yesterday against De La Salle College, in honour of Les Barbara, who passed away this week. Back (from left) are Adam, Anthony, Gordon, Shaun, Jonah, Corban and Graham. Front are Craig and Luke. Picture by Paul Rickard

Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15 players took the Rectory field yesterday in jerseys presented to them in honour of former first 15 assistant coach Les Barbara who passed away this week. 
Les captained highly successful Boys’ High first 15 teams and went on to play club rugby for Old Boys at centre. 
He represented Poverty Bay between 1977 and 1982 and coached the Boys’ High first 15 backline for 12 years. 
He also coached Old Boys and was assistant coach to Kiwi Searancke when Poverty Bay 
won the NPC third division title 
in 2004. 
As a tribute to him, Les’s sons Shaun and Corban (a teacher at Gisborne Boys’ High)  presented the team jerseys before yesterday’s pre-season game between GBHS and De La Salle College of Auckland. 
His sons and other members of the Barbara whānau watched the game won 29-10 by the visitors.
Les’s funeral is at Holy Trinity Church at 11am on Monday.