British & Irish Lions
• British & Irish Lions tour Australia in 2013
Ireland Rugby
O’Driscoll a Captain Barbarian!
Brian O’Driscoll has accepted the Barbarians invitation to captain the squad for their first game against the Springboks since December 2000 (they 41-31 on that occasion).
The 2005 Lions captain said: “Having previously played for the Barbarians against the Springboks in Cardiff seven years ago and also enjoyed their tour to Scotland and England in 2004, it is a great honour for me to be invited to captain the club for what promises to be another great game against South Africa.
“I have very happy memories of playing for the Baa-Baas against England at Twickenham three years ago and look forward to returning there in December.”
Irish interest in the match is sure to be at a high with Paul O’Connell invited to play and Eddie O’Sullivan already pencilled in as coach for that game as well!
O’Driscoll added: “I’m really looking forward to preparing for the match with Eddie as coach and the prospect of many world class players from several countries as team-mates.”
The Barbarians really have invited the cream of world talent this time, Jerry Collins and Sitiveni Sivivatu from New Zealand, Chris Latham, Matt Giteau and Rocky Elsom from Australia and Argentina’s Juan Martin Hernandez and Mario Ledesma.
From the home nations are a few names you may be eve more familiar with are invited, England’s Jason Robinson and Andrew Sheridan, French powerhouse Sebastien Chabal and Martyn Williams and Tom Shanklin from Wales.