Stringer Named In Barbarians Squad

Munster and Ireland scrum half Peter Stringer has been called up for Barbarians duty this week as the world famous invitational side prepare to face Australia at Twickenham next Saturday (kick-off 2.35pm).

Peter Stringer is the only Irish player included for the Killik Cup match. He has played for the Barbarians on one previous occasion, against Germany back in August 2000.

The Barbarians’ starting line-up will be selected from a 22-man squad which promises to be one of the most experienced representative sides ever assembled.

The players, drawn from 10 different countries, share an astonishing 1000-plus Test caps between them.

The latest additions to the multi-national party include Stringer, who boasts 98 Ireland caps, Italy’s Mauro Bergamasco (88 caps), Salvatore Perugini (83) and Marco Bortolami (88), France’s Sylvain Marconnet (84) and Jason White of Scotland (77).

They join a squad that already has Springbok legend Victor Matfield, with 110 international matches under his belt, before making his final ‘big match’ appearance against the Wallabies. Two years ago Matfield captained the Barbarians to victory over the All Blacks.

Sonny Bill Williams has withdrawn because of a hamstring injury and is replaced by another member of New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup squad, Richard Kahui, while further additions are Fiji’s Seru Rabeni and Nemia Kenatale.

Rugby World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry and his assistant Steve Hansen will coach the Barbarians.

Stephen Jones has been withdrawn from the squad as he is required by the Scarlets for their league match against the Newport Gwent Dragons on Friday evening.

The captain of the Baa Baas will be announced when the players and coaches assemble in London on Tuesday.

Tickets for the Killik Cup match between the Barbarians and Australia are on sale via Ticketmaster.co.uk (0844 847 2492).

BARBARIANS Squad (v Australia): Sam Tomkins (England RL), Bryan Habana (South Africa), Isaia Toeava (New Zealand), Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), Stirling Mortlock (Australia), Richard Kahui (New Zealand), Seru Rabeni (Fiji), Danny Cipriani (England), Peter Stringer (Ireland), Nemia Kenatale (Fiji), Keven Mealamu (New Zealand), Adriaan Strauss (South Africa), Salvatore Perugini (Italy), Sylvain Marconnet (France), Eusebio Guinazu (Argentina), Victor Matfield (South Africa), Simon Shaw (England), Marco Bortolami (Italy), Jason White (Scotland), Jerome Kaino (New Zealand), Adam Thomson (New Zealand), Mauro Bergamasco (Italy).