Those New Zealand greatest Sports families
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Forget the Kings Birthday Honours, this is the time recognise New Zealand’s best sporting families.
Of course there is no possibly objective way to judge this, but that shouldn’t stop a lot of fun.
In random order. With points given for range of sports, gender and generation.
Bracewell
Four different test cricketers, along with so many rugby players. There is a theory that the only good Wairarapa Bush rugby sides over the last 40 years have had at least one Bracewell in their ranks.
Fun fact is that Brendan played test cricket for New Zealand and against the All Blacks for Western Australia. You would think that’s unique.
Sadly comedians don’t introduce gender diversity, and other than Brendan’s quirk, sport diversification is not great.
Wallace / Fox
A couple of things going for this in that it covers three generations and three sports. A test cricket captain, an All Black great and a pro golfer.
A few boxes ticked there.
Turner
Speaking of golf there was Greg, Glenn, widely considered New Zealand’s best opener and Brian, a national hockey rep along with being a poet laureate and mountaineer if a tie breaker is required.
Full marks for variety, but it’s limited to one generation.
Rufer
Oceania player of the century is hard to beat. If that was achieved now in an era where New Zealand gets European football we might have got how big he was. Brother and nephew also played for the All Whites. Probably lacking in diversification
Barrett
Three brothers playing together in so many tests together puts them ahead of the Meads who would typically make this list.
Down on points on generational and sport diversity.
Meads
Not so fast. There was Colin and Stan, and Colin’s carefully constructed brand, but there was also Rhonda Earlene Meads who played 20 tests for the Silver Ferns.
Some gender and generational points there
Hadlee
The Chairman / captain, the son, his brother, New Zealand’s best ever player, the actor, his ex-wife, judge of Great New Zealander, car salesman, and Barry. Not a bad line-up/
Murray / Kerr
Grandfather Bruce, part of the 9 test tour in 1969
Son in law Robbie Kerr captained the New Zealand Indoor cricket teams.
Grand daughters Jess and Mellie have gone OK, and Mellie wins all those ICC awards