Three Barretts and a Coltman the pride of FDMC
It was a great night for a Taranaki high school as four of its alumni started for the All Blacks in their World Cup clash against Canada in Japan.
The three Barrett brothers, Scott, Beauden and Jordie, along with Liam Coltman, all played a part in the 63-0 win at Oita Stadium, with the sibling trio all scoring tries.
It’s an impressive feat and no doubt the Francis Douglas Memorial College (FDMC) extended family, along with the region, are very proud.
Newshub journalist Gower definitely is.
Ahead of the game, Gower, a former FDMC student, tweeted: ‘‘Incredible achievement for the Patrick entire school community as we make a mark on the global stage.’’
His heading ‘‘History’’ is correct for the school, but, at the risk of breaking Taranaki hearts, it is not the first time four All Blacks from one school have been in the same team.
According to the All Blacks website, the famous 1987 World Cup-winning team featured four players who had attended Auckland Grammar – Grant Fox, Whetton twins Gary and Alan, and John Drake.
However, history was made during Wednesday night’s game when the Barretts set a record as the first trio of brothers to all score a try in the same Rugby World Cup match.
FDMC principal Martin Chamberlain said while he was disappointed his school wasn’t the first, it was still ‘‘fabulous’’ to see the three Barretts and Coltman on the field at the same time.
‘‘And those Barretts scored a few points between them so that was wonderful. I often feel sorry for Liam Coltman, he’s so often in the shadow of the other three.’’
His 780 pupils, which included years 7 and 8, look up to the four players, he said.
‘‘We often promote the Barrett boys and Liam, not so much for their rugby, but because they’re good college men. They’re responsible and they’re men to be looked up to in terms of their temperament, not just their rugby talent. We’re very proud of these four.’’
Auckland Grammar has produced 51 All Blacks to FDMC’s six, which included two-time World Cup winner Conrad Smith and John Mitchell, who is also in Japan, but as the England defence coach.
There is at least one other school that had four alumni in one All Blacks team, as outlined on the team’s website.
In 2004 four players from Kelston Boys’ High School – Kees Meeuws, Mils Muliaina, Mose Tuiali’i and Sam Tuitupou – were in the teams that played tests against Australia and South Africa, although at least one of them came off the bench, and it wasn’t a World Cup.