Jack and Donna Kirifi were midway through a mouse hunt in their kitchen when ‘the call’ from their son came in. It was perhaps a fitting scenario for parents who have spent years watching him chase his All Blacks’ dream, and hearing him catch it, is something they’ll never forget.
As Du’Plessis delivered his news, the family kitchen became the stage for a celebration that felt like, in Jack’s words, “winning the long-awaited Lotto.”
“There were tears – and cheering. I didn’t care that Donna was videoing,” he says of the celebration clip that went viral.
“I suppose the feeling right at that moment was simply the satisfaction of his hard work finally paying off, you know?”
Having previously been called into the All Blacks – twice – Du’Plessis had both times faced the disappointment of not being named in the final team. As parents who have watched just about every tackle, every move, and every try, they felt those disappointments, too.
“Seeing him run onto the field in an All Black jersey for the first time was a very humbling moment, very monumental,” Jack says of Du’Plessis’ first start against France in Dunedin.
“Especially having followed him through every step and seeing the hard work and sacrifice that has gone in.”
Described as one of the hardest trainers in the game, Du’Plessis has always had a big spirit.
“When he was born, he came out screaming,” Jack laughs. “Not crying like a normal baby — screaming, as if to say, ‘What took you so long?’ He hasn’t stopped since.”
Donna remembers a kid who was built for movement.
“Even as a baby, he had abs and deltoids. He was always physical, always athletic. And nothing scared him.”
At first, his energy went into soccer, where he was a fearless goalkeeper for Moturoa, hurling himself at balls and colliding with oncoming players. But by nine years old, the pull of rugby was too strong.
“He was sitting in the lounge one day watching the All Blacks on TV,” says Donna. “And in this husky little voice, he said, ‘Mum, I want to be that when I grow up.’ He never looked back.”
Donna says her son was always loud and tough, and it was rugby that gave him a way to channel that energy.
“He had an appetite for contact. Right from the get-go we knew he had a natural talent for tackling because he would chop-tackle everything. It didn’t matter who it was or where it was, it was just instinctual.”
Despite always being one of the most athletic, physical players in his teams over the years, Jack says Du’Plessis’ size has always been a contentious topic.
“Even now, people say he’s too small, too this or that, but he has so many other qualities to override that. His skill, his heart…
“It’s quite hurtful as a parent to see those comments, and I think we need to be careful about how we speak to, or about, any young athlete, because at the end of the day, we want them to grow as people, not put them down.”
The parents are humble about their influence on Du’Plessis’ journey, but it’s that very philosophy of being well-rounded people that has strongly filtered down to all five of their children and played a big part in Du’Plessis’ trajectory as a player and leader.
Working on values, academics, school speech competitions, or impromptu one-minute topic discussions at the breakfast table were integral parts of Kirifi family life over the years, and possibly the reason Du’Plessis is consistently praised for his post-match press chats and speaking opportunities.
After leaving school, the now 28-year-old had stints with the Taranaki U19 and Waikato U19 teams. Though his Waikato team was successful, he didn’t quite feel at home in the region, so relished the opportunity to head to Wellington after a chance call from Wellington Lions’ head coach, Chris Gibbes, who was in search of a raw, up-and-coming flanker.
That move changed everything for Du’Plessis, says Donna. In Wellington he learned to be himself, embrace his culture, and trust his abilities. The shaping of his character eventually earned him captaincy of the 2024 championship-winning Wellington Lions, and Hurricanes.
“We often say that Du’Plessis was a leader who needed some sand-papering,” she says.
“While he’s always had it in him, he really needed more experienced players to help shape him, contain him and believe in him.”
Surrounded by seasoned professionals like Brad Shields, Ardie Savea, Dane Coles and TJ Perenara, he found both mentorship and the freedom to grow.
“He learnt so much about himself, the game and team sport that allowed the leadership qualities that had been simmering away, to come to the surface,” says Donna.
“He’s the sort of player who would die for his team on the field. He expects that same commitment from his teammates and I think that’s what has won them games and championships – playing hard for each other,” adds Jack.
Off-field support from both sides of the family has also given the flanker consistent boosts of pre-game luck and post-match feedback, while the backing of Silver Fern partner, Mila Reuelu-Buchanan has been invaluable.
At the Kirifi’s home, one gib wall is a living record of Du’Plessis’ journey. Scrawled across it are goals he set, words that inspired him, and names of billets and rugby mates who entered the family’s circle over the years. With renovations currently on the go at Kirifi HQ, this wall has been carefully relocated to the hallway for safe keeping, and acts as a daily reminder of the impact rugby has had on their lives so far.
Their support for the game came naturally, flowing on from Jack’s involvement that kicked off when he joined the Ponsonby Rugby Club after moving from Samoa to New Zealand. The current Director of Rugby and Pasifika Lead at New Plymouth Boys’ High School says he was first attracted to the sport as it combined his love for being around people, with his need to burn energy. At Ponsonby he eventually took up coaching, and was subsequently asked to co-coach the very first New Zealand Women’s Rugby team in 1989 alongside Laurie O’Reilly.
Jack’s years in the game made him understand the importance rugby has not only on athletic achievement, but personal growth, resilience, and belonging. They’re grateful for the part that has played in Du’Plessis’ journey.
Following the sport has never been about witnessing the tries and titles. While they take immense pride in seeing their son achieve his All Blacks dream, the way he has developed and carries himself as a person holds a lot of weight.
“Rugby is a path, but it’s also a way of growing as a person,” says Jack. “We can see how impactful it has been, and that’s what matters most to us.”