By Andrew McCullough
There is always talk of brotherhood in rugby teams and King Country rugby teams have certainly always stood by the mantra. This years team has no shortage of brotherly links and continues the traditions of yesteryear and follows on from some of NZ rugbys most famous sons.
Union historian Matt McQuilkin has kept track of the siblings and the Union currently sits at 75 sets of brothers having played for King Country in its 103 year history.
The first known brother pairing for King Country were the Harty brothers (Lennard, King Country rep #9 and Rupert #10). Both played out of the Otorohanga club and the previous year had played for Waikato (before King Country union was formed) against the touring South African team.
Then over the years, there had been others with some of the more prominent family names being the Wetere brothers (Kingi and Weo) from Piopio in the 30's and the Cumpstones (John, Fred, Artie and Laurie) from Kio Kio United in the 40’s and early 50’s.
Then of course the best of the lot the Meads brothers (Colin and Stan) being ever present in the King Country forward packs from 1955 through to 1972. Throughout this period the KC forward packs were feared and certainly gave the big city teams a hurry up many a time. Both went on to be All Black greats with Colin being named the player of the century in 1999. Stan is now a life member of the union and currently one of the oldest living All Blacks and still a keen observer at most King Country games.
Through the 80's and 90's the Coffin brothers caused havoc in both forward pack and backline with Phil a renowned prop who toured with the All Blacks in 1996 to South Africa and Hutana a big utility back who made the Maori All Blacks in 1992. Both played well over 100 games for the union. A third brother Pita also made 37 appearances for the union.
To the current crop the most recent brother pairing have been Kristian and Regan Gent-Standen. Kristian was a NZ Heartland player last year and Regan is in the squad for the first time this year, making his debut against West Coast in Round 1 of the Bunnings Heartland Champsionship this year. Ironically both are halfbacks (like their dad - King Country Rep Josh Standen) with Regan making an impact replacing his older brother later in the games.
No 8 Kaleb Foote (also a NZ Heartland rep) has had his younger brother Ollie play in 2022 -2024 and in 2019 Lachlan made 2 appearances also. Then several others are in the wider squad with Rico Bell playing 2 games so far this year following in his older brother Delane’s footsteps whilst also having their dad, Craig representing King Country. Also, loan player (but Te Kuiti local) Patrick Hedley is back for his second season with the Rams and is joined in the squad by younger brother Callum who is yet to debut but is showing great form for the Big Horns team and will no doubt feature in the Rams jersey, adding to the legacy of King Country brothers representation.
To keep the brother theme going all 3 coaches of the current Rams team all played for the Rams (and NZ Heartland XV) but also had brothers who also played. Quite a unique achievement for our union and one that should be recognised.
Celebrated head coach Aarin Dunster played with his brother Jeremy in the 2003 and 2004 seasons and were part of a feared Turangi Sports club team. Both have had sons play for the Rams recently with all 3 (Cruise, Karney and Maximus) of them earning there 25 game blazers.
Backs coach Ben Draper and brother Luke were regulars through the mid to late 2000’s with both notching up just over 30 games and causing headaches with many a backline.
Forwards coach Gene Waller played for the Rams in 2012-2014 after a lengthy stint with Thames Valley. His older brother Dion (7 years older) played for the union in 1995 and 1996 and then moved onto the now defunct Central Vikings (A Hawkes Bay/Manawatu combined team), before ending up at Wellington where he made 43 appearances and gained selection for the Hurricanes where he entrenched his name in their history playing 65 games. Dion was selected for NZ Maori in 1996 and made his All Blacks debut in 2001.
So with a long list of siblings littered through the union we hope there are many more young brothers kicking a ball round the paddocks in Te Kuiti, Taumarunui, Piopio, Turangi, Taupo or any other town within our great province and see them continue the brother legacy of the King Country Rams.
