There are certain families for whom playing rugby at an exceptionally high level seems to just come naturally.
Successful rugby brothers such as the Vunipola’s (Billy and Mako), the Underwood’s (Rory & Tony), the Hasting’s (Gavin and Scott), the Umaga’s (Mike & Tana) and the Gray’s (Jonny & Richie) amongst others have all left their indelible mark on the beautiful game.
However, there are loads of other relations playing the game at an elite level, ranging from brothers to cousins to fathers to the slightly more tenuous link.
Here are such players who you may be surprised are related (even if just a little bit).
1. Beno Obano & Maro Itoje
There is a picture on Beno Obano’s Instagram account of his mother, Patricia, holding him and Maro Itoje together as babies. Born three days apart, the cousins this week took part in a senior England training camp together for the first time.
2. Jerry Collins & Sinoti Sinoti
Sinoti Sinoti – a cousin of late All Blacks great Jerry Collins – scored the opening try in Newcastle’s 28-20 home win on Sunday, inspiring this list. We previously didn’t know the two were related. Collins was also a cousin to the Umaga brothers, Mike and Tana, but that is more well known.
