8 Unexpected Pairs of Rugby Stars We Didn’t Know Were Related

Sunday, 07 January 2018 at 19:48

byRugby Rucker

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.

3. Quade Cooper & Sean Maitland

Quade Cooper and Sean Maitland are cousins and were both born in the north of New Zealand. While Cooper moved to Brisbane in his teens and became a star of the Wallabies, Maitland headed to Christchurch to join the Canterbury Crusaders before heeding his Glaswegian grandfather’s words to remember his roots and headed for Scotland.

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4. Doug Howlett & Nili Latu

All Black Howlett and Tonga legend Latu are also cousins, sharing family on the Pacific Island.

5. Andy, Connor, Liam & Owen Farrell

Liam Farrell is an English rugby league footballer who plays for the Wigan Warriors in the Super League and England as a second-row or loose forward. His younger brother Connor Farrell also plays for Wigan. They are both cousins of Andy Farrell, making them cousins once removed of Owen.

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6. Ben & Tom Curry and John & Sam Olver

The Curry twins are the nephew of former England hooker John Olver and cousins of former Northampton Saints fly-half Sam Olver, who is now at Ealing Trailfinders.

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