Rugby: Big names marshal in resort

Three former prominent rugby players and their children at Remarkables Primary School in Frankton yesterday are (front, from left) Sam Brial, Joe Brial and Lachlan Marshall; second row, from left, former Wallaby loose forward Michael Brial with son Toby, former Highlanders loose forward Kelvin Middleton with bashful daughter Annabella and former All Black halfback Justin Marshall with son Fletcher. Photo by Tracey Roxburgh.

Yesterday, 81-test veteran All Black Justin Marshall, 13-test Wallaby Michael Brial and former Highlanders stalwart Kelvin Middleton entertained pupils at Remarkables Primary School with a goal-kicking competition to mark the arrival of the school's first dual rugby and football goal posts.

Marshall opted for the professional style, while Brial tried going barefoot and had success with a standing start.

It was Middleton, however, who proved to be the crowd favourite, placing the ball on the tee and opting for a running start - which to his apparent surprise worked.

Middleton, a long-time Queenstown resident, is the coach of the Wakatipu premier rugby team and has one daughter, Annabella (6), enrolled at the Frankton school, with younger sister Lulu "here in due course".

Marshall and his family moved to the area following the Christchurch earthquake, and has sons Lachlan (8) and Fletcher (6) enrolled at the school and Lucia (4) at Frankton Playcentre, while Brial's sons, Joe (9) and Sam (7), will be joined by Toby (5), who starts school on Monday.

Brial told the Otago Daily Times he and his family moved to the resort in December for the "lifestyle" and as a skier he was also looking forward to hitting the slopes this winter.

He is continuing to run an investment banking company from Sydney, but also has business interests in the resort, he said.

The 13-test Wallaby was once on the most-hated list of All Blacks supporters, due to what he describes as "an on-field incident", in which former All Black Frank Bunce got up close and personal with Brial's fist during a Bledisloe Cup match in 1996 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

When asked if he'd been forgiven yet, Brial laughed, but was quick to respond.

"No. That comes up a lot here in New Zealand ... it's nothing I'm proud of."

While Marshall has made no secret of wanting to pull his boots back on for the Wakatipu team this season, Brial said he was more comfortable on the sideline.

"I'm too old now ... I like club football. I grew up in a small country town [so] I go down and watch."