Bros before they were pros: The Rugby World Cup is one big happy family

THERE WILL COME a point, most likely after not too long a wait on this opening weekend, when the Rugby World Cup stops being a family show.

There will be heavy hitting, high tackles, heartbreak, studs flying, blood pumping and even (if you listen really close to that audio feed from the referee) a spot of foul language.

And yet, because rugby remains a minority sport globally, it will always be a family affair. Tight-knit rugby communities have a habit of fostering rugby talent and once a conveyor belt starts to move, there’s usually more players on the way through the same system.

Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

The very obvious example close to home are the Kearney brothers in Ireland’s World Cup squad. The two Louthmen – by way of Clongowes Wood – both managed to earn places in the incredibly competitive back three area for Ireland. What’s more, both 29-year-old Rob and 26-year-old Dave both look increasingly likely to start if fit.

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They could well come up against another set of bros in game one. Canada boast the MacKenzies: Sale Sharks winger Phil and scrum-half Jamie will play under the coaching talents of Kiwi pair Kieran and Leo Crowley.

Alesana Tuilagi greets baby bro Manu after a Premiership clash. Source: Joe Giddens

Samoa leave everyone in the shade when it comes to fraternity though. Head coach Stephen Betham has selected all three Pisi brothers: Tusiata (33), George (29) and Ken (26). and the Pacific nation doesn’t stop there, not until they have a pair of Tuilagis in their ranks. Winger Alesana Tuilagi captains the side at 34, and 27-year-old Vavae will be the youngest of the family at the World Cup after the legal troubles of 24-year-old England international Manu.

And wait, there’s more. There are too many powerful rugby families in the Samoan islands to be held in a single Rugby World Cup squad. So the US Eagles have happily accommodated American Samoa-born Andrew (33) and Shalom (27) Suniula.

It is to the traditional powerhouses and former champions we go to find the highest profile siblings. The All Blacks have Owen and Ben Franks to prop up their scrum and South Africa will also be hoping that brothers in arms Bismarck and Jannie Du Plessis can help shunt them to glory.

Billy (centre) and Mako Vunipola celebrate a try against Australia. Source: David Davies

There’s no shortage of familial power in the host nation’s ranks either. Prop Mako Vunipola and his 125 kg bouncing baby brother Billy take up places on England’s replacements bench for the opening match against Fiji, while hooker Tom Youngs (28) and scrum-half Ben are in the starting XV.

Family ties have managed to stretch beyond borders and hemispheres too. Ireland’s Richardt Strauss has already found himself in Test opposition to his cousin Adriaan on more than one occasion as both South African-born hookers have made it to the international stage.

Source: PA Archive/Press Association Images

In Scotland, not content with having Jonny and Richie Gray in the second row, they have Kiwi-born Sean Maitland who is a first cousin of Wallaby out-half Quade Cooper.

To round off the big happy rugby family we go, fittingly, back to Samoa where Tim Nanai-Williams (younger brother of Ulster number eight Nick) will be getting plenty of support from the All Black camp as long as it contains his cousin Sonny Bill.