The tour that reunited the Barrett family

Beauden Barrett might be the best rugby player in the world right now, but it's come at a high price. Photo / Getty

It's been a dream six years for 'best in the business' Beauden Barrett.

His humble debut for Taranaki in 2010 was just the start of a journey that would ultimately land him in the position of being the most valuable rugby player in the world.

Now 25, he's gone from being the best off the bench, to filling Dan Carter's vacant shoes with more innovation and flair than anyone else around him.

But achieving success and becoming World Rugby's Player of the Year in 2016 came at a cost.

For Beauden, that was missing his brothers grow up.

So when Scott and Jordie were named on the All Blacks squad to tour Europe at the end of this year, it was an emotional reuniting for Beauden.

"It was just amazing," he told Newstalk ZB's Tony Veitch. "I hadn't spent that much time with those two since I was a kid growing up with them back in primary school.

"It was really special, and a good opportunity for me to get to know them."

While Beauden has made a home with the Hurricanes, and brought them their first Super Rugby title in 2016, his brothers ply their trade down in Canterbury - though Jordie will be joining his brother in Wellington next season.

The distance, and indeed the demands of a professional sporting career, makes keeping track a little more difficult, so seeing his brothers in the same dressing room made for something pretty extraordinary.

"Obviously they're down in Christchurch doing their thing, going through a lot of changes, they're growing up," Beauden said.

"So it was pretty cool."

But more than anything, Beauden was just happy to know his brothers were doing well and making something of their talents.

"To see Scott kick on in the way he did, I was really proud of him for that," he said.

"Also Jordie, the leaps and bounds he's made this year, I'm pretty excited for next year."

The thought of two Barrett brothers in one team is scary enough, but come next year's Lions tour, they could make up a fifth of the All Blacks starting 15.