Six of rugby’s great father and son combinations

In sport, it is often stated that individual success is more down to hard work than talent.

But take a look around the rugby world and it is obvious birthright can play a part too.

The presence of World Series debutant Brady Rush in the All Blacks Sevens squad for this weekend’s HSBC Singapore Sevens is living proof that there is a parental advantage to be had too.

Whether having the same genes as his father Eric, one of the best rugby sevens players on the planet in the 1990s, lends itself to an equally stellar career remains to be seen as sometimes the burden of expectation can weigh heavily on young shoulders.

However, Rush would appear to have the ingredients to his game to more than live up to the family name, and he is not alone in that.

Here’s a selection of the ever-growing number of sons who have followed in their father’s footsteps in making it to the top of the game.

MICHAEL/LOUIS LYNAGH

Wallaby great Michael won the Rugby World Cup in 1991 and was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2014 after scoring 911 points in 72 Tests for his country.

His son, Louis, has yet to be capped but his performances for 2021 Gallagher Premiership champions Harlequins suggest he won’t have to wait long.

England, Australia and Italy are all options open to him.

GAVIN/ADAM HASTINGS

With a father and an uncle who both played for Scotland with great distinction, Adam Hastings had a head start in carving out a successful rugby career himself.

Adam has won 24 caps to date in three years as a Scotland international so still has some way to go before he can match the 68 caps his father Gavin won and the 67 won by uncle Scott.

TODD/ETHAN BLACKADDER

Once ‘late-bloomer’ Ethan belatedly came onto the pro rugby scene, immediate comparisons were drawn between him and his famous father, Todd, a fellow loose forward in his day and All Blacks captain.

With his rugged style, enduring physicality and consistency, Ethan became a fixture in All Blacks squads in 2021.

EMILE/ROMAIN NTAMACK

France fly-half Romain added to the family legacy when he kicked all of Toulouse’s points to help them to a record fifth European Cup title in May 2021.

Romain’s father, a dashing full-back for Les Bleus, captained Toulouse to victory in the inaugural competition in 1996 and won it for a second time in 2003.

Equally, we could have picked Alain and Damian Penaud as our French representatives.

ANDY/OWEN FARRELL

Former Rugby League Man of Steel Andy won eight caps as a player after crossing codes and has since gone on to enjoy a brilliant coaching career internationally, with England and now as head coach of Ireland.

Son Owen has been England’s goal-kicking pivot at fly-half or centre is one cap short of a century, 93 of them with his country and six with the Lions, and is only the second Englishman after Jonny Wilkinson to score over 1,000 points.

DEREK/SCOTT & CRAIG QUINNELL

Not one but two of Derek Quinnell’s sons trod the same path as him in enjoying successful Welsh careers.

Like his father, a regular during Wales’ golden decade of success in the 70s, Scott Quinnell was a brilliant number eight and also went on to represent the Lions.

Second-row enforcer Craig won 32 international caps – 23 fewer than Scott, whose tally of 55 would have been more had he not crossed codes and gone to rugby league.

Their brother, Gavin Quinnell, also played top-flight club rugby.

Paul and Ross Moriarty are just edged out on collective numbers!