BaaBaas recruit League star
Sam Tomkins is the latest addition to the Barbarians’ squad for the match against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.
The impressive Wigan fullback will complete a unique double by playing against the pride of Australia from both codes – Rugby League and Rugby Union – on successive weekends.
Last Saturday the 22-year-old featured for England against the Australian Kangaroos in the Four Nations’ Final at Elland Road, Leeds and seven days later he dons the famous black-and-white shirt of the Barbarians against Australia’s Wallabies in front of a 50,000-plus crowd at Twickenham.
Confirming the invitation, Barbarians’ commercial director Mike Burton said: “We are delighted that Sam, with the support of the coaches and management at Wigan, has accepted this opportunity to play in such a high-profile union match.
“The Barbarian club has a tradition of thinking outside the circle when inviting players with League backgrounds, and usually to everyone’s benefit.”
He added: “In recent years the likes of Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri, Wendell Sailor and, a few months ago, Willie Mason, have all made a mark when playing for us on the big stage. We are confident that Sam will be equal to the challenge this week.”
Ian Lenagan, chairman and owner of Wigan said: “The Wigan club and Sam are very pleased to accept the Barbarians’ invitation. Sam is an exceptional player in either code of rugby and his selection shows the growing mutual respect between the codes of Rugby League and Rugby Union in England. It’s a great opportunity for Sam to experience the Twickenham atmosphere and showcase his talents on another major stage.”
The Barbarians will be coached by Graham Henry and Steve Hansen who will select their starting line-up 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 Italy’s Mauro Bergomasco (88 caps), Salvatore Perugini (83) and Marco Bortolami (88), France’s Sylvain Marconnet (84), Scotland’s Jason White (77) and Ireland’s Peter Stringer (98).
They join a squad that already had Springbok lock 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 of New Zealand’s World Cup squad, Richard Kahui, while further additions are Fiji’s Seru Rabeni and Nemia Kenatale.
Stephen Jones has been withdrawn from the squad as he is required by the Scarlets for their match against Newport Gwent Dragons on Friday.
Barbarians’ secretary Alan Evans explained: “We had very positive talks with the coaching staff at the Scarlets. They fully appreciated the honour it would have been for Stephen to play for us at this stage of his distinguished career but unfortunately their fixture commitments next weekend must take precedence.”
Evans also confirmed that other Welsh players previously announced would not be available for the Barbarians as they will be in training camp ahead of Wales’ own match against Australia seven days later.
He said: “Obviously we are disappointed that they can’t play for us on this occasion but we also realise that the Welsh regions and the Welsh Rugby Union’s hierarchy have been incredibly supportive of us for similar matches in recent years. We look forward to inviting these players, and others, again in the near future.”
Barbarians squad: Sam Tomkins (England Rugby League), 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).
* The captain will be announced when the squad assembles in London on Tuesday.
