Barbarians name squad to face Samoa

The Barbarians have named an impressive 25-man roster to prepare for their match against Manu Samoa in London this coming Saturday. This will be the first time rugby has been played at the Olympic Stadium, a prelude to the five World Cup matches slated to take place there starting on September 23 when France face Romania. The match celebrates the 125th anniversary of the famous invitational club, and is the first ever meeting between the two sides.

World Cup winners Ali Williams, Adam Thomson, Bakkies Botha, and Wynand Olivier headline the squad that also contains nine Wallabies, though none that appeared during the Rugby Championship. Former Samoan captain Paul Williams, last capped in 2013, will play against his former side having been left out of the World Cup squad.

Seven uncapped players are included, among them Japan-based midfielder Dwayne Sweeney and giant Fijian-born Waratahs winger Taqele Naiyaravoro. Former Scotland prop Kyle Traynor is the only capped player from a northern hemisphere nation, and the only UK-based player in the group, though Naiyaravoro will move to Glasgow Warriors for the upcoming season.

The team will be coached by Jamie Joseph of Super Rugby champion Highlanders. Assisting him will be another former All Black, departing Eastern Province coach Carlos Spencer.

FORWARDS
Carl Hayman (Toulon), Josh Hohneck (Highlanders), Benn Robinson (Waratahs), Kyle Traynor (Bristol), Maks van Dyk (Cheetahs), Saia Fainga’a (Reds), Tolu Latu (Waratahs), Bakkies Botha (Toulon), Luke Jones (Rebels), Ali Williams (Toulon), Liam Gill (Reds), Jacques Potgieter (Waratahs), Pierre Spies (Bulls), Adam Thomson (Reds)

BACKS
Luke Burgess (Rebels), Nic Groom (Stormers), Christian Leali’ifano (Brumbies), Dwayne Sweeney (Sanix), Mike Harris (Rebels), Wynand Olivier (Montpellier), Ben Tapua’i (Force), Tom English (Rebels), Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs), Dom Shipperley (Rebels), Paul Williams (Stade Français)