Congratulations to Dragons RFC Women duo Cerys Hale and Abi Meyrick who have been selected by the Barbarians Women to face the Springbok Women on Saturday, September 7 at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium.
The world-famous invitational club have named a 23-strong squad for the clash, with seven stars of women’s rugby - including Hale - set to make their final international appearance.
The full squad features representatives from eight unions and is led by former Black Fern Linda Itunu and Spain’s Patricia Garcia Lopez.
Dragons RFC Women’s Pathway Manager Hale will pull on the legendary black-and-white stripes as she brings the curtain down on an international and club career spanning more than a decade and winning 49 Welsh caps during the time.
Hale was called up to the Wales squad for the 2014 Six Nations and went onto play in three Rugby World Cups. She was also part of the Wales squad that played in the historic WXV1 tournament in New Zealand in 2023.
The prop began her rugby journey at Pontyclun RFC before going onto play for the Dragons and then PWR’s Gloucester-Hartpury, winning back-to-back titles.
She is joined by and coming Dragons Women’s star Meyrick, who has been part of the club’s Academy system and is a Wales Under-20 international.
BARBARIAN WOMEN SQUAD TO FACE SOUTH AFRICA
Forwards: Kathryn Buggy (Ireland), Rochelle Clarke (England), Ciara Cooney (Ireland), Cerys Hale (Wales), Laura Keates (England), Joanna Kitlinski (USA), Rownita Marston-Mulhearn (England), Charmaine McMenamin (New Zealand), Abi Meyrick (Wales), Claire Molloy (Ireland), Sera Naiqama (Australia), Alycia Washington (USA)
Backs: Rachael Burford (England), Kendra Cocksedge (New Zealand), Kathryn Dane (Ireland), Cheta Emba (USA), Carla Hohepa (New Zealand), Sarah Law (Scotland), Rachel Lund (England), Celia Quansah (England), Amber Reed (England), Emily Scott (England), Lydia Thompson (England)
Coaching staff: Head Coach: Linda Itunu (New Zealand), Assistant Coach: Patricia Garcia Rodriguez (Spain), Barbarian Women Director: Fiona Stockley (England), Team Manager: Anita Velinova (Finland)
