Irish Trio Confirmed For Tsunami Match

Brian O’Driscoll, David Humphreys and Paul O’Connell are to play their part for the Northern Hemisphere in Saturday’s Tsunami Rugby Aid Match at Twickenham.

Brian O’Driscoll, David Humphreys and Paul O’Connell are to play their part for the Northern Hemisphere in Saturday’s Tsunami Rugby Aid Match at Twickenham.

A fit-again O’Driscoll is to captain Sir Clive Woodward’s ‘North’ selection – which incorporates players from all the Six Nations countries – against a Rod Macqueen-coached ‘South’ (kick-off 2.30pm).

British and Irish Lions coach Woodward – sure to use the one-off clash to run the rule over a number of possibles for June’s tour to New Zealand – will confirm his starting North line-up in the coming days.

“The guys that have been named are world class and I am looking forward to working with such an outstanding group of players,” said Woodward.

“The game promises to be a great spectacle. Both teams are fielding top-quality sides and I really hope that the rugby public and community get behind this game so that we are playing in front of a packed out Twickenham to raise as much money as possible for such a deserving cause.”

IRB Tsunami Rugby Aid Match: Saturday, March 5
North v South, Twickenham, 2.30pm (live BBC 1)

NORTH squad: L Dallaglio (England), B Cohen (England), A Rougerie (France), D Traille (France), F Pelous (France), R Ibanez (France), P de Villiers (France), B O’Driscoll (Ireland) (Capt), P O’Connell (Ireland), D Humphreys (Ireland), C Paterson (Scotland), C Cusiter (Scotland), G Bullock (Scotland), S Taylor (Scotland), A Lo Cicero (Italy), M Bortolami (Italy), S Parisse (Italy), D Peel (Wales), C Sweeney (Wales), J Thomas (Wales), R Williams (Wales), J Yapp (Wales).

SOUTH team: C Latham (Australia); R Caucaunibuca (Fiji), J Fourie (South Africa) T Umaga (New Zealand), S Bobo (Fiji); A Mehrtens (New Zealand) G Gregan (Australia) (Capt); T Kefu (Australia), P Waugh (Australia), S Burger (South Africa); I Rawaqa (Fiji), V Matfield (South Africa); K Visagie (South Africa), J Smit (South Africa), C Hoeft (New Zealand).

Replacements: B Reihana (New Zealand), B Lima (Samoa), E Taukafa (Tonga), O Palepoi (Samoa), S Sititi (Samoa), M Rauluni (Fiji), one other player to be announced

Referee: Paddy O’Brien (New Zealand)