Beauden Barrett


Beauden John Barrett is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a First five-eighth or Fullback for the All Blacks, Blues and Hurricanes in Super Rugby, and Taranaki in the Bunnings NPC.
Barrett won the World Rugby Player of the Year awards in 2016 and 2017, was also a nominee for the award in 2018, and is only the second player to win the award in consecutive years, after former teammate Richie McCaw. He also won the overall Sportsperson of the Year Award in the Taranaki Sports Awards in 2013, 2016 and 2019.
Barrett played at under-20 and Sevens levels for New Zealand before being called into the All Blacks squad in May 2012, and made his international debut as a replacement in the final test against Ireland in Hamilton, when he kicked nine points, on 23 June 2012. He debuted for Taranaki in 2010, and debuted in Super Rugby with the Hurricanes in 2011.
Barrett holds the world record for consecutive wins since his first test.

Early life

Barrett was born in New Plymouth to parents Robyn and Kevin Barrett. He grew up on a farm in Pungarehu, a small town in South Taranaki near Ōpunake, with his seven siblings. He has four brothers and three sisters, including Kane, a former Blues representative and Taranaki captain and current All Blacks, Scott and Jordie. Barrett spent a year in Ireland when he was eight years old. He attended St Fiach's National School in Ballinacree, where he and his brother Kane learned how to play Gaelic football. He played for the Rahotu and Coastal Rugby clubs throughout his early childhood rugby, while he also represented Francis Douglas Memorial College in New Plymouth, alongside All Black teammate Liam Coltman, where he excelled in its first XV.
Barrett came to the attention of national selectors at the age of 19, after he was selected in the New Zealand Sevens team for the final two legs of the 2010 IRB Sevens World Series in England and Scotland and debuted for Taranaki in the ITM Cup against Northland.

Professional career

Early career

Barrett made his debut for Taranaki in the 2010 ITM Cup competition, coming on as a replacement against Northland. The 19-year-old had made a huge impression in his opening season for the province, especially in his ability to attack the line and create space which saw him named most promising player of the year. Barrett soon enough caught the eyes of coaches, after a solid performance against Manawatu. Coming off the bench to score a 65-metre solo try that secured his side a bonus point win with 10 minutes to play. Barrett's try, his third of the season, helped Taranaki to their eighth win of the season, maintaining their position in the top four.
With his season over with Taranaki, it left Barrett with tough decisions to make on his Super Rugby future. Weighing up whether to take up a wider training group contract with the Hurricanes or look at other offers, including one from the Blues. Barrett decided to opt with the Hurricanes to become a Hurricanes wider squad member in 2011 after turning down the offer from the Blues. He was called up by the Hurricanes before the side's 2011 tour to South Africa where he saw time off the bench, earning his first four Hurricanes caps. He made his debut in a 50–47 win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, a match that saw the Hurricanes prevail on full-time with a try to lock Jeremy Thrush that Barrett converted.
In his second season with the Taranaki squad for the 2011 ITM Cup, Barrett scored 90 points for the season, including an ITM Cup record after he kicked nine penalties in a 39–33 win over Bay of Plenty. With Barrett playing, Taranaki finished a respectable third placing in the ITM Cup and was instrumental in securing his side the Ranfurly Shield off Southland. Barrett was crowned Taranaki best back of the year for his efforts.

2012–13

In 2012, Barrett began with his first Super Rugby match-day start with the Hurricanes against the Stormers. He produced a man of the match performance during a 39–26 loss. Barrett lead effectively with two try assists, one for second five Tim Bateman and another for reserve hooker Motu Matu'u that was later disallowed by the television match official. He scored one himself and landed all of his six attempts at goal. Barrett also celebrated a record-setting display of goal kicking during the Hurricanes' 66–24 win over the Melbourne Rebels. It saw his 21 points break several franchise records previously held by Jon Preston, including his 1997 mark of 152 points for the season. He landed all nine of his conversion attempts, eclipsing the previous mark of six shared by Christian Cullen, Willie Ripia and Jimmy Gopperth. It was only the second time the Hurricanes have scored nine tries in a match and their total of 66 bettered the 64 scored against Northern Transvaal in 1997.
In June 2012, Barrett was named in the All Blacks squad for the Irish tour of New Zealand. Barrett's Test debut was a memorable one; the first five-eighth coming off the bench after 24 minutes and helping the All Blacks contribute 9 points to a record 60–0 win over the Irish. He went on to play five Tests in 2012.
Due to his international duties, Barrett appeared only four times in 2012 for Taranaki, recording a respectable 60 points. He began the season with a win over Bay of Plenty, whilst scoring a 70-metre intercept try and converting all his goals. Barrett was then released from New Zealand national coach Steve Hansen to start in his first run-on against Wellington since Taranaki's successful Ranfurly Shield defence against Tasman on 1 September. He also featured in 2012 rugby semifinals, when Taranaki took on Canterbury. The match had to go into extra-time after a 27-all draw at full time.
In 2013, Barrett represented the Hurricanes in his third Super Rugby campaign and finished with 186 points for the year. He found his best form of the season playing majority in the number 10 position but was switched to fullback now and then throughout the season after he showed his versatility for the Hurricanes in the position that year. With his international commitments, Barrett was kept from running out for Taranaki. Although he did feature at the launch of the side's 2013 alternative rugby jersey revealing.
Barrett returned to international rugby in 2013, being named in the All Blacks squad for the French tour of New Zealand. Barrett was a key player, playing in the historic 30–0 victory over France, scoring his first test try, which was subsequently voted International Rugby Players' Association's Try of the Year for 2013.

2014–15

Barrett ended speculation concerning his future by signing a two-year contract extension with the Hurricanes in 2014. The then 23-year-old only signed a 12-month deal the previous year after reportedly almost joining the Blues. Along with Julian Savea, he started all sixteen matches for the Hurricanes and by early April, in the 2014 Super Rugby season, Barrett had already scored 100 points. He finished the season scoring 209 points.
In June 2014, Barrett featured in all of the three Tests against England starting on the bench, in the mid-year Test series. He played in the opening 2 Bledisloe Cup Test games against Australia starting from the bench in August.
File:Beauden Barrett.jpg|170px|thumb|Barrett post the England test in Dunedin, June 2014.
In September 2014, Barrett got the opportunity to start in the All Blacks No. 10 jersey for the first time in his career. He played against Argentina at McLean Park in Napier following an injury to Aaron Cruden. Despite having a tough night with his goal-kicking, succeeding with only one from five attempts, he produced a strong 55-minute performance and were involved in setting up the team's three tries. He was then subbed-off by Colin Slade in the 55th minute. The following week, he was benched for the home-game clash against South Africa and came on to replace Aaron Cruden in the 58th minute of the All Blacks' 14–10 win over South Africa, kicking a successful penalty goal.
Following Cruden's boozy night out and off-field drama, Barrett got more opportunity to start in the All Blacks No. 10 role, starting for the last two Tests of the Rugby Championship. He guided the All Blacks to a third straight Rugby Championship Title in the All Blacks' 34–13 win over Argentina in La Plata and then featured in the 25–27 loss to South Africa in Johannesburg. He finished the Rugby Championship with 30 points as 5th highest point-scorer.
On 18 October 2014, despite Cruden returning to the team squad for the third Bledisloe Cup match in Brisbane, coach Steve Hansen selected Barrett to start at No. 10 for the team's clash against the Wallabies. He played for 72 minutes, kicking 3 goals from 4 attempts and produced a strong performance, before being replaced by Colin Slade. The All Blacks won the game 29–28.
Barrett was selected for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, starting in one fixture against Namibia, and coming off the bench to cover wing and fullback in the rest.
In 2015, Barrett had a couple of injuries throughout the Hurricanes 2015 season. He first had a frustrating month of rehabilitation for a knee injury suffered against the Crusaders on 2 May after Barrett's scans revealed a grade-two tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee. He had been ruled out of the Hurricanes' Super Rugby derby match against the Chiefs with a calf strain. Barrett returned to Hurricanes just in time for the 2015 Super Rugby final in which the Highlanders created an upset and heaped heartbreak on the Hurricanes with a 21–14 win in Wellington.
Barrett returned to Taranaki in 2015, after missing the 2013 and 2014 seasons for the province after featuring at first five-eighth against Otago in round three of the competition. His performance did not go unnoticed after a break, from set play, saw him break the Otago line with ease, and speed, to find wing Jackson Ormond in support to take his pass for the opening try in the 12th minute. With three minutes left in the first half, he sized up his options perfectly again to slip a kick across field where right wing Codey Rei was waiting in clear space to secure the ball and score.
All Black Head Coach, Steve Hansen, selected Barrett for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Barrett started in one fixture against Namibia, and coming off the bench to cover wing and fullback in the rest. On 31 October 2015, Barrett scored the final try in the 2015 Rugby World Cup final match against Australia, having been substituted on for the injured Nehe Milner-Skudder. Dan Carter converted his try to make the final score 34–17.