Two overseas-based South Africans, Francois Louw and Pierre Schoeman, have been selected in the Barbarians’ 23-man squad to face an England XV on 2 June.
The match is part of a double header at Twickenham with the Barbarians women’s team playing the Red Roses in a curtain raiser.
Louw is one 19 internationally capped players in the elite squad, while Schoeman is one of just four uncapped players.
Other well-known players who’ve been included are All Blacks Liam Messam, Steven Luatua, Malakai Fekitoa, Colin Slade and Charles Piutau, Wallabies James Horwill and Taqele Naiyaravoro and Argentina’s Facundo Isa.
‘We’ve got really good experience across the board and it’s great that there are nine different countries represented,’ said coach Pat Lam.
‘We’ve selected experience and size up front, exciting players who can make things happen from nothing, and we have some firepower out wide.’
‘We’re also delighted to have James Horwill on board – he’s had a tremendous career at the top of the game and to give him the opportunity to play his last professional game of rugby with us is pleasing.
‘This is a unique team with quality players and it will only play together this one time. So as per last year, I’ll be setting out to get our preparation right on and off the field to ensure we come together as brothers in a short amount of time to hopefully be a world class team on Sunday,’ he added.
Barbarians squad:
Forwards
Joe Marler (Harlequins & England)
Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh)
John Afoa (Bristol Bears & New Zealand)
Finlay Bealham (Connacht & Ireland)
David Heffernan (Connacht & Ireland)
Richard Hibbard (Dragons & Wales)
James Horwill (Harlequins & Australia)
Chris Vui (Bristol Bears & Samoa)
Steven Luatua (Bristol Bears & New Zealand)
Facundo Isa (Toulon & Argentina)
Liam Messam (Toulon & New Zealand)
Viliame Mata (Edinburgh & Fiji)
Francois Louw (Bath & South Africa)
Backs
Rhys Webb (Toulon & Wales)
Rhodri Williams (Dragons & Wales)
Colin Slade (Pau & New Zealand)
Brock James (Bordeaux Begles)
Mark Atkinson (Gloucester)
Malakai Fekitoa (Toulon & New Zealand)
Filipo Nakosi (Toulon)
Taqele Naiyaravoro (Northampton Saints & Australia)
Niyi Adeolokun (Connacht & Ireland)
Charles Piutau (Bristol Bears & New Zealand)
Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
