The Barbarians has confirmed the full squad for the Killik Cup, as the famous invitational side face the All Blacks XV at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday 13 November - with Dragons RFC forward Aaron Wainwright named in the 23-man party.
Ronan O'Gara brings with him a number of stars from his Top 14 side Stade Rochelais, who are current Heineken Champions Cup holders, alongside two Welsh favourites in Wainwright and Rhys Webb, England stars Joe Marler and his Harlequins teammate Joe Marchant, with Munster prop John Ryan waving the flag for Ireland.
New Zealand’s George Bridge – who will soon be heading to Zach Mercer’s club Montpellier in France – already has a Barbarians appearance, and will be reunited with Scott Robertson, his coach at former club Crusaders.
The All Blacks XV team showed their class on Friday evening, after a dominant 47-19 win against Ireland A at the RDS Arena in Dublin. The All Blacks attacking style resulted in seven tries and notable stand out performances came from the captain Patrick Tuipulotu, wing Shaun Stevenson and the mercurial Damian McKenzie.
FORWARDS: Facundo Bosch (Bayonne, Argentina) Camille Chat (Racing 92, France) George Henri Colombe (Stade Rochelais) Cedate Gomes Sa (Racing 92, France) Joe Marler (Harlequins, England) Zach Mercer (Montpellier, England) John Ryan (Munster, Ireland) Romain Sazy (Stade Rochelais) Lekima Tagitagivalu (Section Paloise, Fiji) Aaron Wainwright (Dragons, Wales) Lauret Wenceslas (Racing 92, France) Luke Whitelock (Section Paloise, New Zealand)
BACKS: George Bridge (Montpellier, New Zealand) Antoine Hastoy (Stade Rochelais, France) Tawera Kerr Barlow (Stade Rochelais, New Zealand) Dillyn Leyds (Stade Rochelais, South Africa) Joe Marchant (Harlequins, England) Charlie Ngatai (Leinster, New Zealand) Remi Picquette (Stade Rochelais) Raymond Rhule (Stade Rochelais, South Africa) Teddy Thomas (Stade Rochelais, France) Rhys Webb (Ospreys, Wales) Ihaia West (Toulon)
