Ruan Pienaar
Zane Kirchner
The latest news from the Barbarians camp is that both Zane Kirchner and Ruan Pienaar have been called up to join the Barbarians for the matches against Ireland and England.
The Barbarians face Ireland at Thomond Park (28 May) and an England XV at Twickenham (31 May).
They will line up alongside the likes of Joe Rokocoko, George Smith, Adam Jones, Alex Cuthbert, Gio Aplon and Thomas Waldrom for the famous invitation club that celebrates the 125th anniversary of its foundation this year.
World Cup-winning Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar has also been called up to complete the Barbarians squad to face Ireland and England this week.
Apart from Pienaar, who became available after his Irish province Ulster suffered a dramatic 14 / 16 defeat to Glasgow Warriors in the Pro12 semifinals at the weekend, Barbarians head coach Robbie Deans also added other high-profile names like England international wing Ugo Monye, also with All Blacks forwards Brad Thorn and Jason Eaton.
The 80-times capped international, Pienaar, is the 4th Ireland-based player to make the 30-man squad – along with compatriot Zane Kirchner, who is joined by his Leinster teammates Jimmy Gopperth and Shane Jennings.
Other South Africans in the BaaBaas squad include Gio Aplon (Grenoble) and Wynand Olivier (Montpellier).
Monye, like World Cup-winning lock Thorn and Ireland flank Jennings, will be playing for the last time before retiring at the end of the season, and the Harlequins man is looking to go out on a high as the Barbarians celebrate their 125th anniversary.
“It’s always a real honour to play for the Barbarians and to be able to do so at the end of my career will be something very special,” Monye said.
“I want to go out on a high and my goal is to help this great club add to its list of victories against Ireland and England.”
Deans, a former Australia head coach who also coaches the Wild Knights in Japan, has included 3 of his club players in the squad in the exciting shape of former All Black George Whitelock and Japanese internationals Ryu Koliniasi Holani and Yoshikazu Fujita.
Invitations were also accepted by a number of other star names including Lyon and Australia forward George Smith, Bayonne and New Zealand back Joe Rokocoko, and Cardiff Blues, Wales and British and Irish Lions duo Alex Cuthbert and Adam Jones.
After missing out on a place in England’s World Cup training squad, Thomas Waldrom – the Premiership’s top try-scorer this season – had also been confirmed, while Harlequins hooker David Ward also accepted an invitation.
Deans has called up players from 10 different countries with 786 international caps between them.
Barbarians squad:
Forwards: Matías Díaz (Pampas / Argentina), Jason Eaton (La Rochelle / New Zealand), Deon Fourie (Lyon), Shane Jennings (Leinster / Ireland), Pablo Matera (Pampas / Argentina), Konstantin Mikautadze (Toulon / Georgia), Ryu Koliniasi Holani (Panasonic Wild Knights / Japan), Adam Jones (Cardiff Blues / Wales), Rodrigo Capó Ortega (Castres / Uruguay), George Smith (Lyon / Australia), Saimone Taumoepeau (Castres / New Zealand), Rodrigo Tejerizo (Tucumán / Argentina), Brad Thorn (Leicester Tigers / New Zealand), Gerhard Vosloo (Toulon), David Ward (Harlequins), Thomas Waldrom (Exeter Chiefs / England), George Whitelock (Panasonic Wild Knights / New Zealand).
Backs: Gio Aplon (Grenoble / South Africa), Stephen Brett (Lyon), Tomás Cubelli (Belgrano Ath / Argentina), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues / Wales), Yoshikazu Fujita (Panasonic Wild Knights / Japan), Jimmy Gopperth (Leinster), Zane Kirchner (Leinster / South Africa), Ugo Monye (Harlequins / England), Wynand Olivier (Montpellier / South Africa), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster / South Africa), Tusi Pisi (Suntory Sungoliath / Samoa), Joe Rokocoko (Bayonne / New Zealand), David Smith (Toulon).
Fixtures:
- Thursday 28 May: Ireland vs Barbarians, Thomond Park, Limerick – Kick-Off: 19:45 BST (18:45 GMT, 20:45 SA Time)
- Sunday 31 May: England vs Barbarians, Twickeham, London – Kick-Off: 15:00 BST (14:00 GMT, 16:00 SA Time)