Schoeman makes the Barbarians squad to face England

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENTS: Former Bulls prop Pierre Schoeman could finally get a taste of ‘Test’ level rugby when the Barbarians take on an England XV on Sunday, June 2.

Schoeman is one of four uncapped players that has been named in the Barbarians side.

The other three are Gloucester centre Mark Atkinson from the Premiership, and Bordeaux Begles flyhalf Brock James and Toulon wing Filipo Nakosi from the Top 14.

England’s Joe Marler lines up against his former national side with experienced forwards like New Zealand’s John Afoa and Liam Messam, South Africa’s Francois Louw and Australia’s James Horwill, who makes the final professional appearance of his distinguished career.

The backline includes some of the most exciting attacking talents in the European game, including New Zealand’s Charles Piutau, Malakai Fekitoa and Australia’s Taqele Naiyaravoro, with experienced halfbacks in Wales’s Rhys Webb and New Zealand’s Colin Slade.

Head Coach Pat Lam returns to Twickenham after guiding the famous invitation side to a record 63-45 win over England last year, when Chris Ashton scored three of the Barbarians’ nine tries.

“We’ve got really good experience across the board and it’s great that there are nine different countries represented,” said Lam.

“We’re also delighted to have James Horwill on board — he’s had a tremendous career at the top of the game and to give him the opportunity to play his last professional game of rugby with us is pleasing.

“Overall we’ve selected experience and size up front, exciting players who can make things happen from nothing, and we have some firepower out wide.

“This is a unique team with quality players and it will only play together this one time. So as per last year, I’ll be setting out to get our preparation right on and off the field to ensure we come together as brothers in a short amount of time to hopefully be a world-class team on Sunday.”

Meanwhile, England XV head coach Jim Mallinder has named the 23 players will assemble at the Lensbury Hotel in Teddington for a week-long camp.

Due to his inclusion in the England XV squad Marcus Smith (Harlequins) will not travel with the England U20 team to Argentina for the World Rugby U20 Championship.

Mallinder will be joined by Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints) as forwards coach, Dave Walder (Newcastle) as attack coach and Joe El Abd (Castres Olympique) as defence coach.

England XV

Forwards

Josh Beaumont (Sale Sharks), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks) , Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby), Tom Ellis (Bath Rugby), Ross Harrison (Sale Sharks), Teimana Harrison (Northampton Saints), Paul Hill (Northampton Saints), Beno Obano (Bath Rugby) , Ehren Painter (Northampton Saints), Will Spencer (Leicester Tigers), Elliott Stooke (Bath Rugby), Tommy Taylor (Wasps)

Backs

Josh Bassett (Wasps), Simon Hammersley (Newcastle Falcons), Ben Loader (London Irish), Joe Marchant (Harlequins), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Piers O’Conor (Bristol Bears), Callum Sheedy (Bristol Bears), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben White (Leicester Tigers), Johnny Williams (Newcastle Falcons)

Barbarians squad

Forwards

Joe Marler (Harlequins & England), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), John Afoa (Bristol Bears & New Zealand), Finlay Bealham (Connacht & Ireland), David Heffernan (Connacht & Ireland), Richard Hibbard (Dragons & Wales), James Horwill (Harlequins & Australia), Chris Vui (Bristol Bears & Samoa), Steven Luatua (Bristol Bears & New Zealand), Facundo Isa (Toulon & Argentina), Liam Messam (Toulon & New Zealand), Viliame Mata (Edinburgh & Fiji), Francois Louw (Bath & South Africa)

Backs

Rhys Webb (Toulon & Wales), Rhodri Williams (Dragons & Wales), Colin Slade (Pau & New Zealand), Brock James (Bordeaux Begles), Mark Atkinson (Gloucester), Malakai Fekitoa (Toulon & New Zealand), Filipo Nakosi (Toulon), Taqele Naiyaravoro (Northampton Saints & Australia), Niyi Adeolokun (Connacht & Ireland), Charles Piutau (Bristol Bears & New Zealand)

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— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) May 27, 2019