SQUAD: Experienced Babarians led by Sam Whitelock will take on Fiji.
Sam Whitelock will lead a Barbarian team full of international experience in their Killik Cup match against Fiji at Twickenham on Saturday, and it will be a Twickenham swansong.
Whitelock, a two-time Rugby World Cup winner, is the captain of a 23-man team that has 968 Test caps overall and eight England internationals.
On Saturday, Ben Youngs and Danny Care will alternate at scrum half. The invitational side has been selected to include Zach Mercer, Kyle Sinckler, Jonny May, Jonathan Joseph, David Ribbans, and Kieran Brookes.
Former Japan hooker Shota Horie, who is also playing his final match, Wallaby Scott Sio, France great Gaël Fickou, and other players with at least 50 caps for their country have joined them in a dangerous Barbarian group.
Meanwhile, Fergus Burke, the new fly-half for Saracens, is expected to make his London debut. He will start in an intriguing backline that also features Leicester Fainga’anuku, Virimi Vakatawa, and Chay Fihaki.
For his sixth stint as the Barbarians’ coach, Robbie Deans has called up several players from his Saitama Wild Knights team, who placed second in Japan Rugby League One last month.
In addition to Horie, the following players have gone to London to play Fiji: Lachlan Boshier, Craig Millar, Jack Cornelsen, and Liam Mitchell. Harry Thacker, Fabian Holland, and Cameron Woki round out the lineup.
“I’m thrilled with the team we’ve assembled here in London,” Deans remarked. “This is a fantastic team that includes several guys who are just starting their careers and a ton of veterans.
We have an amazing week ahead of us because they all recognize how fortunate they are to be able to wear this shirt.
“It is essential that we all unite and establish connections.” We simply want to assist these people in bringing all of their skills on Saturday for the benefit of the Barbarians and so they can enjoy the experience as well. These guys are all excellent rugby players; if they weren’t, they wouldn’t be here.
Barbarians squad
Forwards
Lachlan Boshier (Saitama Wild Knights)
Kieran Brookes (RC Toulon, England)
Jack Cornelsen (Saitama Wild Knights, Japan)
Fabian Holland (Highlanders)
Shota Horie (Saitama Wild Knights, Japan)
Zach Mercer (Gloucester Rugby, England)
Craig Millar (Saitama Wild Knights, Japan)
Liam Mitchell (Saitama Wild Knights)
David Ribbans (RC Toulon, England)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, England, British & Irish Lions)
Scott Sio (Exeter Chiefs, Australia)
Harry Thacker (Bristol Bears)
Sam Whitelock (Section Paloise, New Zealand – captain)
Cameron Woki (Racing 92, France)
Backs
Fergus Burke (Crusaders)
Danny Care (Harlequins, England)
Leicester Fainga’anuku (RC Toulon, New Zealand)
Gaël Fickou (Racing 92, France)
Chay Fihaki (Crusaders)
Jonathan Joseph (Biarritz Olympique, England)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, England)
Virimi Vakatawa (Bristol Bears, France)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, England, British & Irish Lions)