All Blacks star explains his Irish roots before big Aviva Stadium debut
New Zealand winger Caleb Clarke is of Northern Irish stock, with his family arriving to Samoa as potato farmers over a century ago
Caleb Clarke can't wait to face Ireland for the first time - especially because he can trace his family roots to this country.
The massive All Blacks winger has learned that his family came to Samoa to farm potatoes from the north of Ireland some time between the 1920s and 1940s.
“It’s quite exciting," admitted Clarke, whose father, Eroni, played for New Zealand in the 1990s. "I was speaking to my family before we left for the northern tour and my dad and my grandad reminded me that I’ve Irish roots in me and that’s where the Clarkes came from before coming to Samoa.
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“It’s my first time here in Ireland as well. Northern Ireland is what I heard. Up north. Before they came to Samoa as potato farmers - that’s about all I’ve got so far. It’s probably why I like Guinness! I’m not a drinker, but when I tried it I was like, ‘Wow, that was so nice’.
“That’s all I’ve heard, they came in the early ’20s or the ’40s to Samoa and started potato farming and from there the Clarkes sort of grew.”
Clarke admits he did some soul-searching after only featuring in the pool stage of last year's World Cup. He worked hard on his fitness, working with rugby League club South Sydney Rabbitohs, shedding pounds to be ready for the new season.
That extra commitment has paid off as he has made a major impact under Scott Robertson, who became All Blacks head coach after the World Cup, and Clarke was his country's top scorer in the Rugby Championship this year.
Given he wasn't involved in the World Cup quarter-final against Ireland, the 25-year-old isn't looking back to that game or wondering if there will be any fall-out on Friday night.
“It’s not too relevant, to be fair,” Clarke said. “We sort of parked that to the side and moving forward we know how dangerous Ireland are as a team and what they bring. Playing here in Ireland is going to be a big task ahead.
“So, for us I think the quarter-final from last year has been pushed aside and we’re really focusing on what’s going to come – and that’s a strong Irish team with strong Irish supporters, and we’ll be ready.
"I think the most important thing is what’s coming ahead and the big challenge that it’s going to be because we know there’s going to be a lot of fireworks out there whether that’s on the field or off the field. And we’ve just got to be prepared for all of that.”
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