Adam Whitelock's baby joy - 'THREE FEELS PRETTY PERFECT'

After years trying to conceive, followed by a devastating miscarriage, the rugby star and his wife Tiffany say third child Henry completes their family

- Sophie Neville

As far as famous sporting families go, the Whitelock name goes hand in hand with rugby in Aotearoa.

So it’s no surprise that after welcoming three mini Whitelocks in just under four years, former Crusaders player Adam Whitelock and his wife Tiffany are often asked if they’re creating a mini-rugby team of their own.

But the pair can only laugh, telling Woman’s Day their little family is complete with the arrival of baby Henry, who was born in October to the delight of his older siblings Sophia, four, and Louis, two.

“I love having a little team of kids,” says Adam, 35. “And Henry is definitely cute, but I think three is the right number for us. It feels pretty perfect.”

As the second brother in the Whitelock family, Adam made his name playing for the Crusaders, Canterbury and the All Blacks Sevens, before spending four years in France with the Aviron Bayonnais team. All four Whitelock boys played for the Crusaders, with oldest brother George now a dad-of-three and back living on the family farm in Linton, near Palmerston North. Sam also has three children and is one of our longest-serving All Blacks, having played more than 140 tests since his debut in 2010. Adam’s youngest brother Luke plays rugby in France.

The family remains close, with the entire extended whānau spending an unforgettable week at their bach on the Kāpiti Coast over the summer. “There are nine kids between us, so it’s a lot of fun when we all get together,” says Adam. “My parents love it.”