Brothers in Arms: Possibles vs Probables
This year’s Six Nations has witnessed two new pairings of brothers playing in the same Test team: Delon & Stefon Armitage (England), and Max & Thom Evans (Scotland).
This got me thinking about how many other brothers have donned the shirt and represented their country at international level. After a bit of research (and a morning well spent at work), it became clear that there was enough familial excellence to fill not one, but two complete teams. I have therefore selected the ‘Possibles’ vs the ‘Probables’.
Separated at birth
I have added one ‘uncapped’ player to each squad in true Barbarians style, and although I admit that Duncan and Adam Jones claim not to be related, there is no feasible way that they cannot be twins separated at birth! Mauro Bergamasco gets a contentious nod at 9 in the ‘Possibles’ team due to a distinct lack of competition!
It should be noted that there seem to be far more brothers that have played in the backs than the forwards, with a distinct scarcity in the front row especially. I put this down to sensible parenthood, where it is decided ‘enough is enough’ once one ugly prop is produced from the womb.
Are there any notable brothers I have left off my list? What are your thoughts on selection?
Probables
1 Dan Pletch (Canada, 21)
2 Mike Pletch (Canada, 11)
3 Paul Wallace (Ireland, 45 + Lions, 5)
4 Carlo Ignacio Fernández Lobbe (Argentina, 60)
5 Juan Martin Fernández Lobbe (Argentina, 15)
6 Scott Quinnell (Wales, 52 + Lions, 3)
7 Stefon Armitage (England, 1)
8 Derek Quinnell (Wales, 23 + Lions, 5)
9 Guy Easterby (Ireland, 28)
10 Mark Ella (Australia, 25)
11 Rory Underwood (England, 85 + Lions, 6)
12 Scott Hastings (Scotland, 65)
13 Delon Armitage (England, 7)
14 Tony Underwood (England, 27)
15 Gavin Hastings (Scotland, 61 + Lions, 6)
16 David Wallace (Ireland, 46 + Lions, 6)
17 Richard Wallace (Ireland, 29)
18 Simon Easterby (Ireland, 65)
19 Gary Ella (Australia, 6)
20 Glen Ella (Australia, 4)
21 Craig Quinnell (Wales, 32)
22 Gavin Quinnell (Uncapped)
Possibles
1 Duncan Jones (Wales, 50)
2 Frank Stout (England, 17)
3 Adam Jones (Wales, 54)
4 Martin Johnson (England, 84 + Lions, 8 )
5 Gary Whetton (New Zealand, 58)
6 Alan Whetton (New Zealand, 65)
7 Mirco Bergamasco (Italy, 54)
8 Henry Tuilagi (Samoa, 4)
9 Mauro Bergamasco (Italy, 58)
10 Felipe Contepomi (Argentina, 62)
11 Alesana “Alex” Tuilagi (Samoa, 10)
12 Fereti “Freddie” Tuilagi (Samoa, 16)
13 Max Evans (Scotland, 4)
14 Thom Evans (Scotland, 5)
15 Rory Lamont (Scotland, 14)
16 Anitelia “Andy” Tuilagi (Samoa, 7)
17 Bruce Deans (New Zealand, 10)
18 Robbie Deans (New Zealand, 5)
19 Manual Contepomi (Argentina, 32)
20 Percy Stout (England, 3)
21 Sean Lamont (Scotland, 48)
22 Will Johnson (Uncapped)
By Justin Aylward
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March 12th, 2009 at 11:00 am
A bit of special license to put Derek Quinnell in with his lads but I’d like to see them all on the same field so I’ll go for it. In fact it’s easier if you include sons and dads as well in which case I’d nominate Tom Shanklin and his dad Jim who got 4 caps on the wing for Wales in the 70’s.
March 12th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Well can’t see anyone missing from the 15’s game but thereare brother teams missing from 7’s..The Argentinean, Pablo and Santiago Gomez Cora as well as these welsh twins who played 7’s and 15 for welsh clubs, Robert and James Lewis as well as the cocker twins who played for different teams, Edwin cocker played for the NZ team whereas his brother John played for Tonga
March 12th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
The Brew brothers Aled who just played in the Sevens World cup and is on loan to the Dragons from Pontypridd and Nathan who I think may be with Bristol now ?Both wingers and with a cap or two each .
March 12th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Which of the Lamont brothers was it who took a yellow card for the other a few seasons back during the 6Nations?
March 13th, 2009 at 9:17 am
There’s the Llewellyn brothers, Gareth & Glyn as an alternative second row partnership
March 13th, 2009 at 10:59 am
It may be a leap of faith to put Mauro Bergamasco at scrum half but to put his brother Mirco, a centre/wing, in Mauro’s position at openside is just rubbing salt in the poor chap’s wounds. Graeme Bachop would be a good alternative at 9 with brother Stephen covering 10 allowing Mauro to slot back in at 7.
Also any Scot (I’m not one) would probably want to see the Calder brothers in there. Jim scored their Grand Slam-winning try in 1984 and Finlay captained the Lions in 1989 and played in the 1990 Grand Slam-winning team.
March 14th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Neil Boobyer Welsh centre late 90’s ,Ian Boobyer his twin a flanker for Llanelli and others never capped but a right pain in the a**e to play against instrumental in getting Dallagio yellow carded in a Heineken game once and their other brother Roddy also handy in the centre .
March 14th, 2009 at 11:31 am
I have racked my brains, but the best I can do is the Bedser twins and they played cricket although one of ‘em did play for Arsenal. Other than that I can think of many from Rugby club siblings that could have Drunk for England.
SORRY!!
March 15th, 2009 at 8:25 am
What rubbish, no Springboks. Ever heard of Carel, Michael & Willie du Plessis or current brothers and world champs Bismarck & Jannie du Plessis
March 15th, 2009 at 8:57 am
I remember seeing England play the Springboks at Twickenham in the 60’s and England won 3-0. I cannot remember the name of the Springbok captain of the time, but am certain that he had a brother who played too. Will anybody else admit to their age and help me out. Was it de Villiers or somehing like that and is he something in Bok Rugby these days, and did he have a brother who also played?
Now then!, what is it I enjoy for breakfast???????
March 15th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Been thinking about it and it was not de Villiers. And am noiw wondering if the score was not 6-3 or was that the Calcutta Cup that year………….Nah don’t blame anybody for not admitting to their age……Oh well back to me tomato plants. 1500-2000+ for the Friends of the local hospital’s Summer Fete, just in case anybody doubts just how bloody stupid I am
April 1st, 2009 at 3:23 pm
As well as the Bok front pairing of Jannie and Bismarck Du Plessis already mentioned there are the twin wingers Akona and Odwa Ndungane and from Zimbabwe Kennedy and Richard Tsimba
April 3rd, 2009 at 9:07 am
How’s about a couple of brothers called Zinzan and Robin Brooke.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:37 am
I see you have left out Naas & Darius Botha and am really surprised that you do not realise that there were 3 du Plessis brothers:
Willie, Carel & Michael.
March 9th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
how many sets of brothers played for wales in the 5 nations and 6 nations i was told of 7 but i ???