BaaBaas squad taking shape!

More players announced for the Barabarians summer tour against England and Wales, and the uncapped player is... Ulster's very own Ian Humphreys! I'm delighted for Ian and it should be a treat for fans as well as Humph and Pienaar have been arguably one of the best halfback partnerships in Europe this season. They get to strut their stuff together with top class players outside them- absolutely mouth watering.

http://www.barbarianfc.co.uk/news/478/summer-tour-squad-almost-complete/

The full list of players confirmed to date is:

Iain Balshaw (England)
Seru Rabini (Fiji)
Paul Sackey (England)
Matthieu Bastareaud (France)
Ian Humphreys (Ulster)
Frederic Michalak (France)
Dwayne Peel (Wales)
Leonardo Ghiraldini (Italy)
Iestyn Thomas (Wales)
Carl Hayman (New Zealand)
Paul Tito (Cardiff Blues)
Erik Lund (Norway)
Joe van Niekerk (South Africa)
Iosefa Tekori (Samoa)
George Smith (Australia)
Martyn Williams (Wales)
Sergio Parisse (Italy)
Ruan Pienaar (South Africa) will be with the squad for the first match and Dougie Howlett (New Zealand) joins the tour in time for the match against Wales.

A final list of 25 players will be announced on Monday 23 May.

Paul Tito's not capped either Notch - unless Wales get desperate ;-)

Well, I know it's a tradition they have at least one uncapped player... but there's no limit right?

Iestyn is in the squad, how did I not know this?! (Or did I and have perhaps forgotten...that could be likely) Chuffed to bloomin bits for him though! He's been on super form all season Be a big step up for him mind if he does get picked to play.

Ooh and just spied Dwayne Peel as well! great that if he gets to play we'll be able to see what he can do. I'd still love him to go to the world cup with Wales.

Some controversy, dreamer, in that Premier Rugby wouldn't release Peel for Wales but they have a deal with the BaaBaas

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/13444855.stm

So Wales actually wanted to pick Peel for the BaaBaas game but were rebuffed... only for Peel to be named in the BaaBaas squad for that game. Go figure!

ha really?! that's a bit farcical! Still either way it'll be great for the Welsh management to see how Peel plays...if he does even start for the BaaBaas that is!

Has anybody ever been sent off in a BaBaas match? If not, I'm betting on M Phillips managing it if Peel starts for the BaBaas.

dreamer, the reason they play two tests is so they can rotate a bit. Ruan Pienaar is only available for the game against England, he's leaving the squad after that and won't play against Wales.

I'd put money on the BaaBaas half backs for England being 9. Ruan Pienaar 10. Ian Humphreys and the halfbacks for Wales being 9. Dwayne Peel 10. Freddie Michalak.

Or maybe not;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/13444855.stm

I think Michalak will play 9 against Wales then.

I presume the Wales game is on the Beeb? Looking forward to seeing the Baa-Baas in action again.

The inclusion of Humphreys has added a whole new dimension for me. I hope he tears it up, can't wait to see him play.

Also, Thomond, looks like John Hayes will play as well. Has that man any plans to retire at all? He just keeps going.

I imagine he will retire at the end of the year but there has been no formal announcement.Could do a Shaun Payne where he plsys and does a backroom staff job.

Scott Johnson has been confirmed as backs coach for the Baabaa's.

Wonder if he'll have a Barbarians snood made for him?

Ian Humphreys has announced he's had to pull out after picking up an injury. Gutted.

Risca Rev wrote:Scott Johnson has been confirmed as backs coach for the Baabaa's.

Wonder if he'll have a Barbarians snood made for him?

Johnson? That should severely hamper the BaaBaa's reputation for open running Rugby then. He will probably play someone like Paul Tito at flyhalf.



Can you tell i am a disillusioned Os fan?

Tovey for outside half!

League convert Willie Mason? At inside centre?

http://planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_6944850,00.html

So this guy has zero Union experience and gets an international call up already, even before he had officially signed for his first ever union club?

This is daft. This is dafter than daft.

Would be in the spirit of the Baa Baa's though wouldnt it Greybeard?

I agree, I think it's in the spirit of the Barbarians.

Sonny Bill Williams did something similar though, and he wasn't that impressive for the BaaBaas against Australia. It takes some time; don't expect any miracles from Mason.

I would love to see the Baa Baa's beat england though im not sure they have the squad to do it....

MR. scotland27 wrote:Would be in the spirit of the Baa Baa's though wouldnt it Greybeard?

Yes in the sense of an uncapped player, but this is more than uncapped, this is someone who hasn't even played a club game yet.

But I suppose in a very loose way, yes.

But in every other way... no http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Mason#Controversy

Wow kind of changed my opinion on him but in terms of purely rugby it could still be interesting, but if he displays any of that behaviour in union I think it will probably be the end of his career.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/13493098.stm


willie mason has now signed for toloun for next season....

Inside centre from League, hasn't played Union. If he is asked to play like Roberts does for Wales I can't see that being a problem.

Tim Visser included in the squad. Well deserved and the Scottish selectors will be watching with interest... still so disappointed for ian Humphreys, a player who fits the Barabrians ethos of attacking rugby to a tee. Maybe next time.

http://www.barbarianfc.co.uk/news/478/summer-tour-squad-announced/

Full Barbarians squad:

Backs - Benoit Baby (Clermont Auvergne), Mathieu Bastareaud (Stade Francais), Doug Howlett (Munster), Brock James (Clermont Auvergne), Nicolas Jeanjean (Brive), Willie Mason (Toulon), Frederic Michalak (Toulouse), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster), Seru Rabini (La Rochelle), Paul Sackey (Toulon), Sebastien Tillous-Borde (Castres Olympique), Tim Visser (Edinburgh)

Forwards - Sebastien Bruno (Toulon), Quintin Geldenhuys (Aironi), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Benetton Treviso), Carl Hayman (Toulon), Davit Kubriashvili (Toulon), Erik Lund (Biarritz), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais), Salvatore Perugini (Aironi), George Smith (Toulon), Iosefa Tekori (Castres Olympique), Iestyn Thomas (Scarlets), Paul Tito (Cardiff Blues), Joe van Niekerk (Toulon), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues)

Coaches: David Young, Scott Johnson

And confirmed Dwayne Peel has been withdrawn. Because Premier Rugby are a pack of the juiciest Kumquats you'll find this side of the Welsh sporting press

The worst thing about that squad is the coaches! Did you see Hughie's link on the papers? WOL saying Dai Young could be Gatlands successor! What is that business theory that incompetence is promoted to a level where it can't do damage?

Anyway, what would be your team from that lot then Notch?

Well, the initial announcement said that Ruan Pienaar would withdraw from the squad after the Englabd match and Dougie Howlett wouldn't join until after that.

In most positions on these tours, they rotate. I'd expect a whole different front row to play both tests- it'd be more special for Iestyn Thomas and Martyn Williams to play against Wales (not to mention their massive point to prove to the coach...). So my team for England would be;

1 Salvatore Perugini
2 Leonardo Ghiraldini
3 Carl Hayman
4 Erik Lund
5 Paul Tito
6 Iosefa Tekori
7 George Smith
8 Sergio Parisse
9 Ruan Pienaar
10 Brock James
11 Tim Visser
12 Willie Mason
13 Mathieu Basteraud
14 Paul Sackey
15 Benoit Baby

Then against Wales you'd swap Thomas for Perugini, Bruno for Ghiraldini, Kubriashvili for Hayman, Geldenhuys for Lund, van Niekirk for Tekori, Williams for Smith, Tillous Borde for James, Howlett for Sackey, Rabeni for Mason and Jeanjean for Visser

The boys are on about going to the Babaas match. My wife is working though, the first wedding in a new purpose built building they have put up. It would not be PC for me to even mention it yet.

I think it is good to see tim visser get some recoginition as he is a great player for edinbrurgh and in the magners also elegible for scotland soon

Mr Scotland, are you happy to see him qualifying for Scotland. Or do you think that he should be playing for Holland.

He represented Holland at age group level and his father was their captain so I think most people in holland won't begrudge himm too much to become the most successful dutch rugby player as far as I can remember.