Lacrosse: Clarkson brothers eye once-in-lifetime opportunity at world championships

Four boys from the same Auckland family will wear the silver fern at the lacrosse world championships in the United States. 

The Clarkson brothers - James, Joe, Will and Henry - are all involved in the New Zealand team that will travel to San Diego later this month. 

They're embracing what could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Lacrosse and the Clarksons is a match made in heaven.

NZ assistant coach James Clarkson
NZ assistant coach James Clarkson. Photo credit: Newshub

"It's an awsome game," said Will Clarkson. "We love it, we fell in love with it and we've never looked back, since picking up the stick."

Oldest sibling James started playing, when he was introduced to the sport at school, before his siblings got involved.

"Joe saw me playing, and decided that this looked like a bit of fun and decided to come down," he said. "William was the next one and then finally Henry, the youngest."

Those backyard battles were ruthless.

"There's been quite a few tears, quite a few bruises," admitted Will.

Those battles have served the brothers well, with all four now part of the national team. Will and Henry play in the midfield, Joe is an attacker, while James is the assistant coach.

"They've difinitely learned who's in charge," said James.

In just under three weeks, they'll compete at the world Championships, a journey that began last October last year, when New Zealand finished third at the Asia Pacific qualifiers.

"It's always been a dream of the boys to get to the World Cup," said James.

The Clarkson boys will get to share that rare experience together.

"It's cool I get to do it with my three older brothers," said Henry.

They've tempered expectations for the tournament.

"The goal is to be definitely top half of the tournament," said James. "If that's unrealistic, hopefully somewhere in the middle there."

With college scouts likely to be in San Diego, a USA scholarship could be on the cards for a couple of the brothers.

"We do have some young guys on the team, like myself, and my little brother's coming - he's only 19, so there is opportunity there," said Will.

That opportunity comes about every four years, but it could set them up for something much bigger.