ALAN QUINLAN, Doug Howlett, Jean de Villiers and Paul Warwick will experience what it is like to be in the away dressingroom at Thomond Park in a twist of fate after being included in the Barbarians squad for a clash with Ireland in Limerick.
The Barbarians meet England at Twickenham on Sunday, May 30th, before moving to Ireland and a game against Declan Kidney’s side on June 4th. The Irish squad fly out the following day on their three-game summer tour to New Zealand and Australia.
The Barbarians squad, which will be coached by Toulon director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre, won’t be finalised until closer to the time, but the likes of Melbourne-bound Danny Cipriani and former All Black duo Jerry Collins and Carl Hayman have already been confirmed in the touring party.
Barbarians’ president Micky Steele-Bodger admitted: “Such a demanding itinerary places the onus on us to assemble top-quality individuals from around the world and, once again, we are encouraged by the readiness of such players to accept invitations to join us. More names will be announced after the teams involved in the various end-of-season competitions in Europe and the Super 14 finals in the Southern Hemisphere are finalised.”
The Barbarians first played in Ireland in October 1957, when they beat an Ulster Invitation XV 14-11 at Ravenhill. More recently, they beat South Africa at Lansdowne Road in 1994, played there again against Ireland in the Peace International in 1996, and as part of a summer tour in 2000.
