Beauden Barrett

Beauden John Barrett (born 27 May 1991) is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a Fly half for Japan Rugby League One club Toyota Verblitz and for the New Zealand national team.

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.

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 (19 wins from 19 tests).

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, whilst 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 won the overall Sportsperson of the Year Award in the Taranaki Sports Awards in 2013, 2016 and 2019.

Barrett won the World Rugby Player of the Year award in 2016 and 2017, was also a nominee for the award in 2018, and is only the second player to win the award in back-to-back years, after former teammate Richie McCaw.