Barbarians Squad Announced
The 30-man squad will take on Ireland, Belgium and England in coming weeks. The squad includes several England players who didn’t make it into the England summer tour (Balshaw and Vainikolo for starters!).
The squad includes Munster prop Federico Pucciariello, and former Leinster prop Ollie le Roux. Recently departed second row from Ulster, Justin Harrison gets an invite too.
There are a large overseas party including Australian fly-half Stephen Larkham, and fellow Australians Morgan Turinui and David Croft. London Irish provide a further Ozzie in the form of Peter Hewat and Samoan centre Seilala Mapusua.
The New Zealand flag will be flown by the Newcastle-bound Otago captain Craig Newby, and fly-half Glen Jackson.
The squad, coached by Cardiff Blue David Young, will tackle Belgium in Brussels on Saturday before the Ireland game on the 27th.
Barbarians squad:
Backs
I Balshaw (Gloucester),
P Hewat (London Irish),
T Delport (Worcester),
L Vainikolo (Gloucester),
G Thomas (Cardiff Blues),
M Turinui (Queensland Reds),
J Pretorius (Stormers),
S Mapusua (London Irish),
T Smith (ACT Brumbies),
S Larkham (unattached),
G Jackson (Saracens),
A Gomarsall (Harlequins),
M Claassens (Bath),
R Powell (Worcester).
Forwards
F Pucciarello (Munster),
C Visagie (Saracens),
O le Roux (Leinster),
P Collazo (Gloucester),
D Crompton (Bristol),
M Regan (Bristol),
S Bruno (Sale Sharks),
J Harrison (Ulster),
K Chesney (Saracens),
D Grewcock (Bath),
R Skeate (Stormers),
P Wannenburg (Blue Bulls),
M Molitika (Cardiff Blues),
D Croft (Queensland Reds),
M Chapman (ACT Brumbies),
C Newby (Otago Highlanders).