Two new All Blacks have a special connection
SPOTLIGHT: For rookie All Blacks being called up for the very first time Caleb Clarke and Hoskins Sotutu don’t just play together for the Blues, their unique ties go far deeper than that.
Clarke and Sotutu were announced as two of the seven uncapped players named in the All Black squad but their selection is no surprise when one considers their pedigree.
Besides being teammates at the Blues the pair share a connection through their fathers.
Their Dads Eroni Clarke and Waisake Sotutu were also Blues teammates back in the late 90’s with both going on to claim international honours. Clarke with the AB’s and Sotutu with Fiji.
Sotutu was the first to say that the connection shared between himself and Clarke simply made their announcement to the squad just that little more special.
“Me and Caleb are a similar age as well, so growing up we always had that connection through our dads, it’s just real special to be named with some of my Blues mates and Caleb,” Sotutu said.
It was also really fitting that the announcement came on Fathers Day providing both players with an extra special present to give their Dads.
Clarke said he held out for as long as he could before sharing the news with his Dad.
“It was actually quite funny. When I rang him, I delayed saying I made the squad, and since it’s Father’s Day I was like “Happy Father’s Day dad, what did you get up to? What did you have for breakfast?” And so, I probably would have said it right at the end if I was actually going to hang up,” Clarke said.
“I said “here’s another Father’s Day gift, I made the squad.”
“I just heard all the cheering, I could hear my little brothers in the room with my parents as well so it was pretty cool to live out a dream and get to share an experience that I know my dad had as well.”
Sotutu’s Dad who’s normally a rather reserved person broke his usual silence on hearing his sons achievement.
Source: 1 News (Auckland)
