The Barbarians have named a star-studded panel of players for their upcoming match with an All Blacks XV at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday 13 November.
The squad is a who’s who of former internationals and it includes three former England players – Joe Marchant, Joe Marler and Zach Mercer.
Former All Blacks wing George Bridge is also named alongside the likes of back row Luke Whitelock, La Rochelle’s Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Leinster’s Charlie Ngatai.
The team also lists former British & Irish Lions scrumhalf Rhys Webb and fellow Welshman Aaron Wainwright.
Ireland’s John Ryan, who recently re-signed with Munster after Wasps tanked, also joins the party.
There’s a tonne of out of favour Frenchman too. Teddy Thomas, Brice Dulin, Lauret Wenceslas, Camille Chat and Cedate Gomes Sa give the side a distinct je ne sais quoi.
There are two Springboks too in the shape of Dillyn Leyds and Raymond Rhule, as well as Los Puma’s loose forward Facundo Bosch.
Head Coach Ronan O’Gara is reuniting with his Crusaders colleague Scott Robertson to take charge of the Barbarians, creating a fascinating subplot as Robertson, a man many believe should be in charge of the All Blacks, takes on a team of New Zealanders.
FORWARDS
Facundo Bosch (Stade Rochelais, Argentina)
Camille Chat (Stade Rochelais, France)
George Henri Colombe (Stade Rochelais)
Cedate Gomes Sa (Racing 92, France)
Joe Marler (Harlequins, England)
Zach Mercer (Montpellier, England)
John Ryan (Munster, Ireland)
Romain Sazy (Stade Rochelais)
Lekima Tagitagivalu (Section Paloise, Fiji)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons, Wales)
Lauret Wenceslas (Racing 92, France)
Luke Whitelock (Section Paloise, New Zealand)
BACKS
George Bridge (Montpellier, New Zealand)
Antoine Hastoy (Stade Rochelais, France)
Tawera Kerr Barlow (Stade Rochelais, New Zealand)
Dillyn Leyds (Stade Rochelais, South Africa)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, England)
Charlie Ngatai (Leinster, New Zealand)
Remi Picquette (Stade Rochelais)
Raymond Rhule (Stade Rochelais, South Africa)
Teddy Thomas (Stade Rochelais, France)
Rhys Webb (Ospreys, Wales)
Ihaia West (Toulon)
