All Blacks: 12 things you need to know about the amazing Barrett boys

New All Blacks Jordie Barrett (left) and Scott Barrett (right) with father Kevin (centre). Photo / photosport.nz

Beauden Barrett will be joined by brothers Scott and Jordie on the All Blacks northern tour. While it won't happen on this trip - Jordie is a non-playing apprentice - it raises the prospect of a trio of All Black brothers taking the field for the first time. Here are 12 things you need to know about the amazing Barrett family.

1) There are eight Barrett siblings - five boys, three girls. As the legend goes, dad Kevin "Smiley" Barrett - an icon of Taranaki rugby - exited provincial rugby with the claim that he was off to breed some All Blacks. Smiley Barrett's greatest moment came when Taranaki beat star-studded Auckland for the Ranfurly Shield in 1996.

2) Beauden Barrett zoomed into superstar status this year, and will be a top contender for the international player of the year award. His growing stature means his relationship with girlfriend Hannah Laity has received more exposure. The 22-year-old Laity - schooled at Diocesan and Kings in Auckland - is a tax specialist. She was also a top junior hockey player.

3) The Barrett boys were schooled at Francis Douglas Memorial College in New Plymouth - other notable rugby types to pass that way include former All Blacks coach John Mitchell, the great Conrad Smith (who is Jordie's sporting hero), ex-Fiji captain Deacon Manu and the Barretts' new All Black team mate Liam Coltman.

4) The Barretts will join more than 40 sets of brothers to be All Blacks. Sam, George and Luke Whitelock are the only trio although the three of them were never on a test field at the same time. Brothers who did play together are Zinzan and Robin Brooke (39 tests, 1992 - 97), Alan and Gary Whetton (34, 1984 - 91), Owen and Ben Franks (33, 2010 - 15), Don and Ian Clarke (18, 1956 - 63), Colin and Stan Meads (14, 1961 - 66), Graeme and Stephen Bachop (4, 1944), Cyril and Maurice Brownlie (3, 1924 - 25), Ginger and Mark Nicholls (1, 1921), Charles and Pat Purdue (1, 1905).

5) Kevin and Robyn Barrett, dairy farmers just south of New Plymouth, plus six kids including all the boys headed to Ireland in 1999. Kevin worked as a farm manager for 15 months in County Meath.

"Kane, Beaudy and Scotty were straight into school," Kevin Barrett told Irish sports outletThe 42. "The first day, they turned up to school in their bare feet and they got some looks. Everyone thought, 'these poor New Zealand boys without shoes on,' but that's what we do. They were sloshing around in the snow, it was quite funny." Beauden and brother Kane - a Blues lock and Taranaki captain whose career has been hurt by concussion problems - played Gaelic football in Ireland.

6) The Barrett's were the victims of a bizarre crime late last year. Kevin and son Blake were driving a ute when they were shot at by a man with a high powered air rifle. The perpetrator, who was unhappy that a roadside pine tree had been cut down, pleaded guilty to recklessly discharging a firearm.

7) Jordie, aged 19, is a Bachelor of Commerce student at Lincoln and is playing for Canterbury. But he resisted the Crusaders, signing a two year deal with the Hurricanes to line up alongside Beauden who admitted he "twisted his arm very tightly". Dad Kevin also played for the Hurricanes. Jordie plays in the inside backs and fullback. He was the only New Zealander selected in the team of the tournament at the under-20 World Cup in England this year. Second five-eighths is tipped as his future position.

8) Scott, 22, is doing an agriculture degree at Lincoln. At 1.97m he is not tall by modern lock standards but he is a ready fit for the multi-skilled All Black forwards.
"In my younger years I used to play all over the show, at flanker and first-five and used to kick goals," he told Stuff. "But then I gave that up to focus on my core roles of being a lock in seventh form and have been there ever since...I would prefer playing lock but in the future a composite role at six could be possible." All Blacks fans might wonder if Scott can kick goals better than Beauden Barrett.

9) Scott is continuing an amazing line of locks with Canterbury/Crusaders links. In recent times, this has produced Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Dominic Bird and now Barrett. The great Brodie Retallick is of Rangiora origins and out of Christchurch Boys High. Rising Blues test lock Patrick Tuipulotu was born in Christchurch. Scott's decision to stay with the Crusaders means he can learn off the very best - Crusaders locking mates/rivals Whitelock and Romano. Barrett said: "They are willing and open to share everything. At the end of the day we are in the same team, and are trying to win a title."

10) Jordie is the second All Black "apprentice", following Ardie Savea who was a non-playing member of the squad which toured Europe in 2013.

"It's weird, it's in the middle...people are making out like I've made it but I haven't," the 20-year-old Savea said at the time. Jordie Barrett will know what he means although apprentice status means the test call-up is not too far away. Selector Grant Fox indicated the versatile Barrett needs more bulk on his frame. At 1.95m, Barrett is extremely tall for a back, and currently weighs around 96kg. The tallest current All Black back is Julian Savea at 1.92m. He weighs around 108kg.

11) Jordie - whose pet hate is when people spell his name Jordan - let his parents in on the news that he was about to be revealed as an All Black apprentice. The All Blacks got it right, spelling his name Jordie. Scott let his parents find out he would be covering for the injured Sam Whitelock when everybody else did.

12) Pace bowler Jordie Barrett has played for the Taranaki cricket side, and captained the Central Districts under-19 team. He said a tough part about signing for the Hurricanes was it meant giving up competitive cricket. Jordie has also been described as an outstanding golfer.