The Barbarians have confirmed the full squad for the Killik Club, as the famous invitational side face All Blacks XV at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday 13 November (tickets available now).
Co-Coach Ronan O'Gara brings with him a number of stars from his Top 14 side Stade Rochelais, who are current Heineken Champions Cup holders. Alongside Teddy Thomas, Camille Chat and Tawera Kerr-Barlow, returning Barbarians Dilly Leyds and Antoine Hastoy, George-Henri Colombe, Romain Sazy, Remi Picquette and Raymond Rhule will also head to London from Les Maritimes.
Two Welsh favourites in Aaron Wainwright and Rhys Webb will line-up alongside Barbarian favourite Joe Marler and his Harlequins teammate Joe Marchant.
Munster prop John Ryan is waving the flag for Ireland. New Zealand's George Bridge – who will soon be heading to Mercer's club Montpellier in France – already has a Barbarians appearance alongside his 18 caps for the All Blacks, turning out against England in 2019, and will be reunited with Scott Robertson, his coach at former club Crusaders.
The Barbarians' first fixture – the Killik Cup – will be against a very strong All Blacks XV team, with Auckland and Blues lock Patrick Tuipulotu to captaining the side alongside a host of well-known names.
The visiting side also includes seven players with Test experience including Tuipulotu, Aidan Ross, Angus Ta'avao, Asafo Aumua, Luke Jacobson, Brad Weber, and Damian McKenzie. Bryn Gatland, the son of previous Barbarians Head Coach Warren Gatland, is also included alongside the nephew of Barbarians legend Pat Lam, AJ Lam.
The All Blacks XV follows in the footsteps of similar teams which have assembled throughout New Zealand rugby's history, and adds a new element to the New Zealand Rugby set-up, representing a development opportunity for future All Blacks – as well as a chance for current players to make their case for All Blacks selection or recall.
The Barbarians are also set to play a number of domestic fixtures – against Harlequins (Thursday 17 November), Bath Rugby (Sunday 20 November) and Northampton Saints (Saturday 26 November) – following the disruption to the Gallagher Premiership calendar.
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)
Tickets are available from *£40 for adults and *£25 for children*.
Visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk/barbarians to get your tickets now. For all hospitality premium packages, go to www.tottenhamhotspur.com for more information. (* Booking Fees Apply)
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