His uncle, Len Barchard also played for New Zealand, while his other uncle, Laurie Barchard played senior rugby league for City for several years.
[2] He was selected for the New Zealand national rugby league team in 1947 (Kiwi No.
[3] In 1953, his final year of representative football for Auckland, he was drawn into the touring US All Stars side as they were short of players for their New Zealand leg of the tour.
[4] Des was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Howick Hornets RLFC (Auckland) for service to the Club as a founding member.
[citation needed] Barchard was the coach of the New Zealand national rugby league team at the 1968 and 1972 World Cups.