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The mantle has been passed down from father to son in the history of the Ranfurly Shield of Taranaki.
In 1996, Taranaki’s Kevin “Smiley” Barrett and Andy Slater helped fight Auckland’s Log ‘o Wood, and 24 years later they were at New Plymouth Airport on Sunday morning to welcome their children home. They accomplished the same feat against Canterbury on Saturday.
Beauden and Jordie Barrett, along with Bradley Slater, were part of the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls team that stunned an All Blacks plagued Canterbury team in Christchurch to score a narrow victory and claim the Shield for the second time in three years.
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Past and present Ranfurly Shield winners, left to right, Kevin “Smiley” Barrett, son Jordie, Bradley Slater with father Andy and Yarrows Taranaki Bulls assistant coach Neil Barnes with Ranfurly shield at the airport from New Plymouth on Sunday.
All Black Jordie Barrett scored a long-range penalty from 48 yards in the 74th minute to put his team one point ahead.
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Taranaki Bulls captain Tehorangi Walden arrives with Ranfurly’s crest at New Plymouth Airport on Sunday.
His tough as teak father, who played 167 games for the province, displayed the same no-nonsense approach he was known for on the field when asked about the kick.
“He’s a goal kicker, so his job is to kick goals. There was a lot of pressure, but yeah, he did the job,” he said with a smile.
It was a very special feeling to win the Shield and Kevin said it was great to have two of his sons on the winning side and a third, Scott, watching from the sidelines.
“Playing Canterbury down there is never easy so the guys took a chance and got the job done in the end.
“It was a great team effort overall.”
SPORT OF HEAVEN
Jordie Barrett’s late penalty from the midline gives Taranaki a one-point win over Waitaha in a thrilling encounter with Ranfurly Shield in Ōtautahi.
Andy was equally proud of his son, who plays Super Rugby for the Chiefs and was part of the 2019 New Zealand Under-20 team.
“From a father’s point of view, it was great for him to experience the same things as us.
“Just the excitement they showed afterward means it wasn’t just another rugby game, it was a great moment for them.”
He described winning the Shield as something special and said that there were many players who would never have that opportunity.
“That’s what makes the thing as prestigious as it is, it’s the fact that it’s so hard to come by.”
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Andy Slater, former Taranaki rugby player and Ranfurly Shield winner, left, with his son Bradley at New Plymouth Airport on Sunday. Brad, who was part of the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls team that beat Canterbury to claim the Log ‘or Wood on Saturday.
Slater expected there to be a sellout at Inglewood’s TET Stadium next Sunday when the Bulls face Otago in the Miter 10 Cup at Inglewood’s TET Stadium, where the Shields will be back on the line.
“There will be a sold out crowd there and it will create a lot of excitement in Taranaki this week.”
Bradley, sporting a swollen black eye, a match war wound, said it was an incredible feeling to win the Log ‘or Wood.
“You always dream about it when you’re a kid and when you grow up you want to have a shot at it, so picking it up is amazing.”
Taranaki Rugby Football Union Chief Executive Laurence Corlett described the victory as an incredible effort.
“We’ve made it difficult for the past few years, so it was a very special time to be involved last night,” Corlett said.
“It was great to see the children of the Taranaki legends also win the Ranfurly Shield. It was great, a very special moment. “
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Taranaki Bulls captain Tehorangi Walden holds the Ranfurly Shield aloft as he enters the New Plymouth airport terminal on Sunday.
Corlett said it was doubtful that a parade would be held to celebrate the victory, as had happened in previous years, but he expected a large crowd for the first defense.
“It is going to be a real injection for the province and the team and it will be very special to have a crowd.
“Fingers crossed on level 1 and we can carry as many people as the ground can hold. We may have to put up the old out of print signs, which will be great. “
Of the Queen We are the Champions it exploded through the speakers as the team entered the terminal at around 10:40 a.m., where more than 100 people were waiting to welcome them and the Shield.
The team shared hugs, handshakes and high-fives with friends and family as they walked.
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Friends and family gathered at the New Plymouth Airport to greet the Taranaki Bulls with the Ranfurly Shield on Sunday.
Guy Ormrod and his two-year-old daughter Georgie were among them.
Ormrod said it was a great match, but admitted he was on the edge of his seat during the second half.
“We are very proud of the boys.
“Of course we were nervous. It was a difficult observation. “
His fellow fan Mike Morrissey said it was an amazing achievement.
“It was a very close victory,” Morrissey said.
“In the first half, the guys really took it away.”
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Ian Smith, Riaan du Plooy and Carey Simonson celebrate Taranaki winning the Ranfurly Shield at the Crowded House Bar in New Plymouth on Saturday night.
Clive Walshe described it as a brilliant victory.
“They were lucky to have that lead at halftime, and they just held on and held on,” Walshe said.
“That was a shot, wasn’t it?” she said, referring to Jordie’s kick.
“We just blew up. We thought it was just amazing. “
Walshe said he will definitely head to the first defense this weekend.
“I’ll get there if I have to crawl on my hands and knees.”
