Deputy principal Tim Stuck had the pleasure of coaching all three but was first to admit they had some key elements embedded in their game even before arriving at high school.

"I think it's [down to] their work ethic and their understanding of the game, but you know, it stems from probably playing footie in the backyard and going to school down the coast and coming into Francis Douglas Memorial College and then heading on to the greener pasture as well."

Even when pressed, Stuck was not keen on taking too much credit for the Barretts' success.

"Absolutely not. There's been a number of coaches that they've had along the way that have had an impact and I suspect that the environment they are in at the moment ... those coaches have done a pretty good job with them."

But Stuck believed there could just be something in the water at Francis Douglas.

Former All Black Conrad Smith is also an Alumni of Francis Douglas.

Smith who graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Law with Honours, has a strong rugby lineage.

His uncle and great-uncle were both All Blacks and his father represented Taranaki in both rugby and cricket.

More recently, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens Jacob has signed with the All Blacks Sevens for two years.

As for which Barrett was best, Stuck leaves it to others to decide.

First fifteen lock Abraham Mataitini opted, perhaps not unsurprisingly, for Scott who was a surprise selection in the All Black's starting lineup for the semifinal, at blindside flanker.

"For me, it's probably Scott Barrett. He's got the biggest work rate on him I'd say."

Source

• rnz.co.nz
• wn.catholic.org.nz
• fdmc.school.nz
• Image: rnz.co.nz

They can now put aside differences including religion and speaking openly about personal struggles is the norm,

"I think the cool thing in the last 12 months is a lot of boys in the team are real, speak their mind, but it's not always just the picture-perfect things. We talk about the hardships that we face and overcome," Williams said.

"Obviously for me, I'm a Muslim, Jack Goodhue is a Christian, some boys don't believe in faith, we all put these differences aside for the betterment of the individual."

Williams felt that the current state of affairs made the team stronger.

"I think that's the cool thing that we have in the All Blacks at the moment," he said.

"For myself, it has probably evolved, you know I've been in this team, in and out, for ten years and I don't know if I could have had the conversations that I probably had today with a couple of the boys ten years ago.

Williams also spoke about how important his faith was in his preparation.

"I'm a religious man, and I believe all my blessings come from the creator," he said. "I try and live and move in a way where I create space for people to come into my light, and I try to affect people in a positive way."

Auckland University's Caleb Marsters and Dr Jermaima Tiatia-Seath have conducted a study into young Pacific Island players and their mental health.

The study shows that shows religion is a crucial factor in the wellbeing of young Pacific men.

Source

• tvnz.co.nz
• stuff.co.nz
• stuff.co.nz
• Image: theguardian.com

Climate change activists are putting pressure on the All Blacks to cancel the sponsorship deal with the insurance company.

This followed a tip-off from an AIG staff member which revealed that AIG is insuring the on-ground works at the Adani Carmichael mine site, in northern Queensland, and providing Directors and Officers insurance.

14 other insurance companies have ruled out insuring the project after coming under pressure from activist groups Insure Our Future, Market Forces and SumOfUs.

If built, Adani's Carmichael project would open up one of the largest untapped coal reserves in the world.

It has the capacity to produce up to 60 million tonnes of thermal coal every year (on par with the biggest mine in the US).

But at this stage, it's only planning to produce around 27.5 million tonnes.

To put that into perspective, BMA's Blackwater mine in Queensland produces around 13 million tonnes of coal, while BHP's Mount Arthur mine in NSW produces 15 million tonnes.

act.360 reports that if it is built, the mine will pump out 57 years worth of New Zealand's entire annual greenhouse gas emissions.

Anti-coal campaigners SumOfUs and 350.org have launched petitions calling on Rugby New Zealand to "distance themselves from this toxic project and suspend their sponsorship with AIG immediately".

A post on act.360 claims AIG is in damage control.

"It's hoping that another win for the All Blacks will help smooth over the bad PR they've been receiving for accepting sponsorship from AIG."

Adani Australia is an energy and infrastructure company, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of India's Adani Group.

A petition calling on AIG to rule out any future dealings with Adani now sits at 135,000 signatures and was delivered to AIG offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane earlier this month under a heavy police presence.

Click here if you wish to join the act.360's protest

Source

• act.350.org
• afr.comact.350.org/…/tell-all-blacks-dump-aig-until-aig-dumps-adani
• au.finance.yahoo.com
• scoop.co.nz
• Image: verdict.co.uk

Associate professor Tania Cassidy and Otago graduate Ryan Rosevear say the focus of provincial unions is on player development but New Zealand Rugby (NZR) focuses primarily on improving performance.

The study recommends an open discussion about why some values are prioritised and not others.

The authors say NZR has a list of socially oriented "character assessment values" which selectors use to assess players' character.

These values include work ethic, competitiveness, resilience, coachability and motivation in rugby.

But NZR lacks clear emphasis on moral values says Rosevear.

"This reflects other researchers' claims that principles such as honesty and sportspersonship are not often emphasised in elite team sports because they do not win matches."

Leading international character academics recommend a focus also be placed on moral values, specifically compassion, fairness, sportspersonship and integrity.

Cassidy said NZR should follow the lead of some of their provincial counterparts and consider moral principles alongside social values during the selection process.

The study comes at a time when moral judgements on sports stars, especially rugby players, have become a hot topic of discussion.

The All Blacks have recently come under fire for their moral judgment, or lack thereof, after the selection of Crusaders winger Sevu Reece for the upcoming Rugby Championship.

Source

• www.otago.ac.nz
• www.nzherald.co.nz/sport
• rnz.co.nz
• Image: rugbynorcal.org

"It sits at the top of former All Black Salesi Tu'ipulotu 'Charles' Piutau's book collection in his Belfast apartment, next to 'An Intensive Course in Tongan' and a collection of other books linked to the church."

He says '$EED or GR€€D?' teaches you not to let money and greed overtake who you are.

Piutau was born in New Zealand after his parents migrated from Tonga. "They left their friends and family in Tonga to give us a chance to chase our dream," he said.

He has been playing for the Irish club Ulster, but he is on the move to Bristol on a two-year deal. He will be paid $1.8 million per season. That will make him the most highly paid player in world rugby.

"Religious books are my go-to," Puitau says. "'$EED or GR€€D' is written by the same guy who wrote 'From the Pit to the Palace' which is about Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers."

At 25, he has given up trying to restart his career as an All Black in order to help feed his family.

Piutau said it was easy for him to put his family ahead of chasing further All Black honours.

"Every Pacific Island kid is on (sic) the same boat," he says. "Some would rather stay back, play X number of Tests and become a great All Black. For me, I came to the conclusion that wasn't me."

"My family is going to be with me forever, and they're the people closest to me. Rugby's not forever, and I want to be able to look after my parents."

Source

• New Zealand Herald
• Stuff
• Image: Coventry Telegraph

The three Barrett brothers, Beauden, Scott and Jordie and Liam Coltman were in the All Blacks. Ricky Riccitelli played for the Hurricanes. Teihorangi Walden was in the Highlander's team.

Watch Video: What's in the Water at Francis Douglas College

Deputy principal Tim Stuck, and teacher Steve Simpson both coached the school's 1st XV team together and separately between 2004-2015.

Stuck says the success former students had on the bigger stages of the sport recently had definitely affected the school in a positive way.

The school roll this year is 781, up from 740 in 2009. It caters for students from year seven to year 13.

But Stuck says the school isn't rugby focused; the number of students representing the school has remained around the 200-250 mark since 2009.

Principal Martin Chamberlain credits Stuck for the work he did with the rugby programme.

He says while sports, as well as culture and service are important, "making the man" and academia come first.

He said Stuck worked on making the man before he's worked on making the rugby player.

"I think if people learn responsibility, self-discipline, training, being kind to others and being open to being a team member, all of those things, if those come first then the rugby skills can be built on that."

"In some ways some of these guys shone more when they left the school in their rugby because their foundation of manhood had been built here."

Source

• Stuff
• TVNZ
• Facebook
• Image: La Salle

St Mary's College Sevens team was first formed less than two years ago. In 2016 the girls won every tournament they entered and are the current National Secondary School Champions.

Now, in April, they hope to be on their way to Japan to participate in the Sanix World Rugby Youth Cup.

Coach Mativa and Savea and go back to their days together Rongotai College.

Savea thought he'd go down and help out occasionally. Instead, he's there every Monday and Wednesday that his schedule allows.

"I got hooked onto how good the girls are and how awesome it is to be a part of everything," said Savea.

"When I first came all the girls weren't talking, they were a bit shy...none of them knew how to pass a rugby ball."

"They were all girls from basketball and netball who'd never played rugby before, but they were just so skilled and so talented and we just tried to teach them."

The Mativa-Savea dynamic is an interesting one. Mativa's in charge but it's inevitable that his famous pal's words sometimes carry more weight.

The team needs to raise $30,000 before Easter and are working extremely hard to fundraise. For some families the amount needed to travel is a big challenge.

A Givealittle page allows people make a donation St Mary's College Sevens team started an amazing journey less than two years ago when a team was first formed.

Source

• st-marys-wellington.school.nz
• stuff.co.nz
• givealittle.co.nz
• Image: collegesportmedia.co.nz

Along with the three Barrett brothers, Beauden, Scott and Jordie, Liam Coltman had been named as a hooker on the tour.

Martin Chamberlain, the principal of Francis Douglas Memorial College, said they were not only proud of their rugby achievements, but that they had grown into well-rounded young men.

Tim Stuck, who coached the three Barrett brothers at Francis Douglas said they had all shown potential and each had "special qualities".

As the first 15 coach, Stuck had watched all 3 boys play and see their skills develop.

While Beauden showed attributes of a professional rugby player early on and demonstrated skills that would allow him to be influential in a game, it was Scott who he knew would definitely be an All Black.

"As a coach to be honest, I actually thought he would kick on to be an All Black. I thought this guy has an amazing skill set."

"For a lock, kicking goals, footwork, everything. I thought he could certainly go on and play for his country if not for his province."

Jordie, the youngest of the Barrett boys and just 19, had only been away from the school for two years but progressed quickly, Stuck said.

"Jordie grew really quick at secondary school, he was a very, very able rugby player and again skill set, ability to read a game, very tough - he's progressed as well. "

Other notable sportsmen who attended Francis Douglas include:

• John Mitchell - All Black, former All Blacks coach, Western Force Super Rugby team coach
• Conrad Smith - former Hurricanes captain and former All Black
• Frank van Hattum - New Zealand football (soccer) international
• Deacon Manu - New Zealand Maori Rugby and Fijian International.
• Scott Fuglistaller - Wellington Lion, Melbourne Rebel. (Rugby Union)
• Leon Power - Taranaki rugby Bay of Plenty rugby ACT Brumbies Super rugby.
• Carl Carmichael - Taranaki rugby, King Country Rugby, Tasman Rugby and NZ Heartland Rugby Team.
• Teihorangi Walden represented New Zealand Under-20 during the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship in France.
• Ricky Riccitelli hooker for the Hurricanes at the tender age of 21.
• Kane Barrett Captain Taranaki in the ITM Cup. Blues squad 2013 and 2014. New Zealand Secondary Schools.
• Source

• nzherald.co.nz
• wikipedia.org
• stuff.co.nz
• Image: thai-dreaming.com

4 out of 40 All Blacks attended Francis Douglas College]]> 88590 https://cathnews.co.nz/2016/09/16/8-yearvolds-good-deeds-rewarded-all-blacks/ Thu, 15 Sep 2016 17:02:46 +0000 http://cathnews.co.nz/?p=87060

An 8-year-old student at Marian Catholic school in Hamilton has been rewarded for his good deeds by getting a visit from some All Blacks. When he was just 6 years old a Byron Casson asked himself, "If people can't afford canned food, how can they afford a can opener?" So he set up a lemonade stand Read more

The charity, which has a vision to "find cures for kids", has launched a campaign, in partnership with the national team and New Zealand Rugby, to raise awareness around the need to invest in medical research.

"It is about getting New Zealanders to make personal connections between the crucial research that Cure Kids funds and the difference it makes in the lives of the children and young people they know," said the charity. Continue reading

The magnificent Catholic church in Siusega, on the outskirts of Apia, is in the parish of Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi.

After the team entered the church to the hymn How Great Thou Art, sung in Samoan by a choir, parish priest Ilalio Fulu gave a lively address to the players, asking them if they were ready for Wednesday's historic match - the first time the All Blacks have played a test in the Islands.

The players assured him they were.

Fr Fulu also made mention of "our brothers from New Zealand", but said it was the Manu Samoa players' responsibility to celebrate their gifts fully on the field, and to play "tough, but not rough".

Later he asked: "If God is with us, who can be against us?"

Manu Samoa manager Namulauulu Sami Leota responded with an address of his own in which his only words in English were: "Are we ready? We are more than ready."

Source

• nzherald.co.nz
• Image: nzherald.co.nz

New Zealand rugby nobility were at Holy Cross Catholic Church to pay tribute to Skinner, who played 20 tests and 63 games for the All Blacks between 1949 and 1956.

Skinner died on July 21, aged 86.

A former national heavyweight boxing champion, his exploits against the 1956 Springboks became the stuff of legend.

Recalled to the All Blacks after two other New Zealand props suffered cracked ribs thanks to the ferocious Springbok front row, Skinner threw legendary punches which skittled Jaap Bekker and Chris Koch.

The All Blacks went on to complete their first ever series victory against South Africa.

In the book "Rugby Greats", published in 1975, Skinner said comments and criticisms after the series got to him in the years immediately after 1956.

But eventually they became "water off a duck's back".

Skinner was taught by the Christian Brothers in Dunedin, before moving on to St Kevin's College in Oamaru, where he displayed a keen interest in rugby and boxing.

The eulogy was delivered at Skinner's funeral by fellow All Black great Bryan Williams.

All Black and Kiwi Sonny Bill Williams, who shared the rugby-boxing link with Skinner, tweeted about the death of the legend he took great delight in meeting in 2012.

"Kevin Skinner passed away today. Not just a great All Black but a great man. My thoughts go out to his wife and family. RIP brother," Williams said.

Sources

• New Zealand Herald
• Stuff.co.nz
• Rugby Greats (Moa)
• Image: 3 News

I wonder if a harmless nomenclature like the "Blues" explains the relative lack of success enjoyed by Kirwan's men.

I have been trying to think of a suitably violent animal to suggest to Sir John but all suitable names seem used up.

The violence that the codes of both games tolerates both on and off the fields is frankly appalling.

Spear tackling which I understand is illegal in rugby can lead to permanently disabling injuries.

No one seemed too concerned apart from Brian O'Driscoll when All Black Tama Umanga spear-tackled the Irishman in 2005 thereby ensuring he could no longer play in the Lion's tour of the country that year.

Umanga branded O'Driscoll as a "sook" in his biography and berated the media for criticising his violent action. The two men were reconciled some four years later.

There has been more than one incident this year of spectator or player attacks on referees.

A minority of rugby and league players seem to have few qualms about beating up their partners.

And apparently the All Blacks have iconic value for all New Zealanders.

The odd visit to Starship Children's Hospital in Auckland does not disguise the fact that players are committed to a violent game. Continue reading.

In February, Deaker declared on Sky TV that he did not like Williams: "He is a Muslim, in a so-called Christian country, and that makes me uncomfortable."

Sky will not release the Deaker on Sport episode in which the remark was made without his permission.

Dion Nash who was on the panel when Deaker made his comment said he believed Deaker "got carried away with the moment".

"What he said was he couldn't understand, he was struggling to understand where Sonny Bill Williams was coming from, and then he listed a whole lot of things ... one of the things was he was a Muslim living in a Christian country."

Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand president Anwar Ghani said Sky and Deaker should release the programme as he would like to see it.

"It is very sad to hear somebody of his intellect can make such a comment. It is a bit unprofessional."

Last year Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand senior vice-president Javed Khan said he was unhappy that an All Black was not listed among the world's 500 most influential Muslims: "Sonny Bill Williams is probably the most famous Muslim in New Zealand and, in a Rugby World Cup year, has brought the faith to prominence. I think the only reason he was not included in the list is because these people are not aware of the existence of New Zealand's Muslim superstar and we'll be writing to them to make sure he's there next year."

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• Taranaki Daily News
• New Zealand Herald
• Image: The Telegraph

Senior Islamic figures say people are seeking them out for insights into the All Black's preparations for the Rugby World Cup.

"If Jesus was here today why wouldn't he come back as an All Black?" asks the Anglican Dean of Wellington Frank Nelson. Why is it that images of Jesus always seem to to show him belonging to another age? The renaissance artists did not hesitate to depict Him dressed as a man of their times.

The porteños, as the people of the citizens of Buenos Aires are known, are 90% Catholic and the main city cathedral is a magnificent building. In one ornate alcove stands a statue of Jesus that all Portenos know as Jesus Christ of Football Players, as every championship year the national team comes here to pray before heading overseas to contest the soccer World Cup.

Argentina won the Cup in 1928, but has not been able to repeat the victory since, hence the need for solemn prayer.

Nelson says the purpose of an icon in St Paul's was to make people think about one of the central beliefs of Christianity - that God, in Christ, became human.

• Buy statues of Jesus playing sport on Catholic Shoppe (Sorry no rugby ones)
• Watch an interview "Jesus comes out of retirement to coach Fantasy Football" - YouTube
• He played League too!

Source

• Capital Times
• The Wanganui Chronicle
• Have a look at orignal image

In May Wellington's Marist-St Pats survived an almighty scare and fended off relegation. The win ensured MSP did not play in the Hardham Cup for the first time in 36 years. When John Holden, a long-time supporter of MSP read in the DomPost "MSP's prayers are answered" he began to think about the practice of praying for your favourite team.

"If you were to judge by the newspapers there's no shortage of miracles in modern Britain, nor of messiahs,"says a writer in The Guardian. "It's just that they are all on the sports pages. Praying for a sporting result is one of the oddest and most widespread religious behaviours in the world. Why do people do it? What do they suppose it says about God? What does it in fact say about God?"

It is a question worth pondering as the stadium of four million people prepares for its biggest sporting event, Rugby World Cup 2011. Do faith and sport mix?

They sure do! says NZ Christian Network which is involved with the Christian Sports Network, which occasionally issues useful short reflections on some sport-related topic.

Breakers' chaplain, Grant Harris, when asked if he prays for them to win, said the trouble was, if he were to do so then the chaplain for the opposition is pulling on the same strings from his side!

• A Rugby prayer from Clifton College
• A Rugby prayer for a Warrior of God
• A Franciscan Rugby Prayer
• My Rugby World Cup Prayer

There is a website that is called Rugby House of Prayer - but, on investigation it proves to be about the town of that name, not the game.

Image

• Flickr