Barbarian Squad announced

Barbarians squad:

Backs: Isa Nacewa (Fiji), Mils Muliaina (New Zealand), Ian Balshaw (England), Cedric Heymans (France), Shane Williams (Wales), Paul Sackey (England), Sailosi Tagicakibau (Samoa), Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu (Samoa), Mike Tindall (England), Damien Traille (France), Felipe Contepomi (Argentine), Stephen Donald (New Zealand), Stephen Jones (Wales), Rory Lawson (Scotland), Jerome Fillol (France).

Forwards: Schalk Brits (South Africa), Benoit August (France), John Smit (South Africa), Aled de Malmanche (New Zealand), John Afoa (New Zealand), Duncan Jones (Wales), B J Botha (South Africa), Neemia Tialata (New Zealand), Jerome Thion (France), Mick O'Driscoll (Ireland), Anton van Zyl (South Africa), Pelu Taele (Samoa), Raphael Lakafia (France), Antoine Burban (France), Akupusi Qera (Fiji), John Beattie (Scotland), Pedrie Wannenburg (South Africa), Juan Manuel Leguizamon (Argentine)

Fixtures:

Sunday, May 27

England v Barbarians (Twickenham, London)

Tuesday, May 29
Ireland v Barbarians (Kingsholm, Gloucester)

Saturday, June 2
Wales v Barbarians (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)

A real bunch of hasbeens. Gone are the days that the Barbars stood for something - its a real shame

I don't know, the barbarians to me still stand for something, and the selection of has beens as you say to me is nice as it gives these guys the opportunity to enjoy the game at a level they have not played at in a while. Isn't that part of it. to me the most disgracefull thing ever to happen to the barbarians was when Jake white coached them and decided to play percentages Rugby. My idea of the Barbarians has always been a festival mentality, they don't play to win, they play to enjoy, have a few beers together and get to know one another.  A Great tradition in building friendship across borders in the Game, Especially now that the game has turned professional i am so glad that this tradition has remained from the old days. Long may The Barbarian's live, if they still remain with their Ethos intact.

Rubbish the Barbars are about picking the best from the rest of the world with one uncapped player added. Its not about a bunch of hasbeens who cant compete. The last Barbars side selected along these lines got thrashed as this hopeless lot will be.

Worlds apart

Outstanding talents have followed in their footsteps ever since. Not least the well remembered Edgar Mobbs. Sadly killed in The Great War, he showed the leadership and spirit required to wear the famous black and white hoops. In his honour, 'The Mobbs Memorial Match' was an annual fixture from 1921 until 2011.

Winning the world over

As a result of many scintillating performances, the Barbarians won respect worldwide and on 31 January 1948 they were invited to play the Australians at Cardiff Arms Park in the final match of the tour. The battle captured the imagination of millions and drew a capacity crowd of 45,000. So successful was the fixture that it became tradition for Australia, New Zealand or South Africa - whichever was touring the UK - to tackle the Barbarians in 'The Final Challenge.' This exciting event took place every three years until,in the professional era after 1995, games occurred more frequently.

The Modern Game

As the 21st century dawned the Barbarians played South Africa in 2000 and Australia the following year at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Then, in a magical three Decembers between 2007 and 2009, the Barbarians beat South Africa and New Zealand at Twickenham and hosted the first rugby union match at the rebuilt Wembley Stadium, playing Australia in a gala occasion that also celebrated the centenary of the 1908 Olympic Games in London.

http://www.barbarianfc.co.uk/about/history/

Sadly, If you were ever under the impression that the Barbarians was a best of the rest type team, you have either been mislead, do not know the history of the club or the Ethos that guides it.

What complete bullshit, in the past, the best current players were selected for the Barbars, not a bunch of hasbeens - one only needs to look at the results to confirm this and the make-up of those past Barbars sides, starting with that famous Edwards, JPR side

• Who runs the club? The club has a committee of 12, six of whom comprise the management board: Micky Steele-Bodger(President), John Spencer (Chairman), Geoffrey Windsor-Lewis (Vice-President), Gordon Brown (Treasurer), Alan Evans (Secretary), and Mike Burton (Commercial Director); plus six committee members, John Jeffrey, David Humphreys, Ian Metcalfe, Philip Orr, Derek Quinnell and David Barnes.
• Who pays The Barbarians to play? The costs incurred by the Barbarians in assembling a squad for each game or tour are paid out of the gate receipts from the match, or matches, played.

• Who is the most famous Barbarian? Many of the best rugby players in the world have represented the Barbarians at one time and selecting the most famous would be a matter of opinion. In terms of appearances Tony O'Reilly of Old Belvedere & Ireland made 30 appearances for the club 1955-62 and scored 38 tries, the most by any Barbarian. Other notable players who have played more than 20 matches include Budge Rogers, Ron Jacobs, John Spencer and Phil Bennett

• Is there a match for which The Baa-Baas are most famous? Many would claim that the 1973 match when the Barbarians beat the All Blacks at Cardiff Arms Park is the best display of rugby ever seen. The match included the try by Gareth Edwards which took play from inside the Barbarians 25 through 7 pairs of hands to score by the comer post. John Bevan, Fergus Slaffery and JPR Williams scored the other Barbarian tries in a 23 - 11 victory. An equally acclaimed victory at the time was achieved in 1961 when the Barbarians played the South African Springboks captained by Avril Malan. The Springboks were unbeaten on their tour of Great Britain and Ireland. In their last match of the tour the Barbarians held on to a 6 - 0 lead thanks to some fierce tackling and carried off the Springbok head - a trophy traditionally presented by the South African tourists to the first side to beat them when on tour.

• When did the club first play an overseas team? The date most people will recall is 1948 when the club first played an International touring side. The Home Unions Tours Committee invited the Barbarians to play a match to raise funds for the tourist's journey home via Canada. The 45,000 crowd at Cardiff Arms Park saw the Barbarians win by 9 - 6 and the Home Unions Tours Committee has since then included such a match whenever possible in the itinerary of touring teams.

• Who are The Barbarians? The Barbarians are a rugby club which brings together players from different clubs to play a few matches each year to enjoy the camaraderie of the game and play attacking, adventurous rugby without the pressure of having to win.

• Where is their home? The Barbarians have no home ground or clubhouse. They are a touring club that plays at the invitation of clubs or unions and have visited all parts of the home unions. Overseas the club has played in 25 countries, most recently Tunisia, Spain, Georgia and Portugal, thus spreading the Barbarian tradition.

• Who can play for The Barbarians? The only criteria a player must fulfil to recieve an invitation from The Barbarians are: that the player's rugby is of a good standard and that they behave themselves on and off the field. There is no discrimination on the basis of a player's race, colour or creed and since 1890, players from over 25 different countries have worn the famous black and white hoop jersey. Once invited a player becomes a life member of the club.

• Why was the club formed? The club was formed in 1890 by a player from Blackheath, London, W P Carpmael. At that time the rugby season finished in March so he decided to invite a group of players to join him on an end-of-season tour to the North of England. This he saw as an opportunity to play with friends from various clubs who were normally opponents. It was such a success that he formed the Barbarian Football Club to continue touring on an informal basis and the first tour took place in December of that year playing Huddersfield and Bradford.

Saf there have in the past been quite average players that played for the barbarians, the barbarians are like a gentlemans club. As I said before, your bulshit comments reflects well on your knowledge of their history. The cameraderie and friendships built with this concept is phnomenal. It is truly one of the best traditions of our game. An yes you are kmistaken this is not a WORLD XV this is a barbarian side, and they should not be worried about winning or losing but enjoying playing the game and bieng ambassadors for the game.

Well obviously the side was not made up of the best player in every position as the Barbars are represented by many nations, but you seem to completely miss the point. If a true Barbars side was being selected as it was in the past, chances are Hougaard, JP, Beast and Bekker would have probably been the SA reps, not Smit, Wannenberg. BJ and v/Zyl, you get my drift......these guys would have mixed with 4 star Kiwis, Aussies and the rest would have been made up of the best the South Sea Islands sides, Argentina, States and Canada had to offer.

This is how the Barbars used to be selected - FACT. It was a current side selected mostly on merit and who challenged the current test sides to the wire. This squad, much like the previous squad has no chance in hell of competing and will like the last side concede 50 points.

If this does not ring true with you then quite frankly I cant be asked debating the subject with you as I know for a fact that the Barbars of the past were a damn good side, not made up of a bunch of hasbeens. The odd old guy yes, but not a whole squads worth

My Saf, i will Digress. You do miss the point and will probably by all accounts don't get it.

I don't follow Dave. Are you suggesting that 2010 pack is the best available? To me the BaaBaas have many incarnations. They are at times the best team in the world.....the Lions plus. At times they are an old boys club allowing great players to have a last turn on the stage. At times they also reward players perceived to be unfairly overlooked by their national teams. And sometimes they are a showcase for new talent.

Nope they are not the best available, but certainly current and they pretty much had the best backs available coupled with a good few classy forwards. A side that challenged and was typical of a Barbars side a few years back.

The last Barbars side was a joke and got beaten 60 - 11. That side was on a par with this sad excuse of a squad selected now