Barbarians field All-Black stars against Springboks
Sam Cane starts in the back row for Barbarians
©PA
The Barbarians have announced a formidable squad stacked with former All Blacks for their highly anticipated clash against the Springboks in Cape Town this Saturday.
The invitational side will be led by Ireland’s Peter O’Mahony, who captains a powerful lineup packed with international experience.
O’Mahony will be joined in the back row by ex-New Zealand skipper Sam Cane and former All Black flanker Shannon Frizell.
The front row options are equally imposing, with Cian Healy, Paul Alo-Emile, Will Collier, Camille Chat, and David Ribbans among the seasoned names. Locks Josh Beehre and Ruben van Heerden add extra heft and mobility.
In the backline, Melvyn Jaminet takes up the full-back role with Mark Tele’a and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens on the wings, while Peter Umaga-Jensen and Leicester Fainga’anuku form a dangerous centre pairing.
Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Josh Jacomb are named as the halfback duo, while the bench features Hoskins Sotutu, Ricky Riccitelli, Hassane Kolingar, and Santiago Arata—all capable of turning the tide late in the game.
Six former All Blacks have been named in the starting XV, bringing a combined wealth of international pedigree to the match.
Among them are Tele’a, Cane, Frizell, Beehre, Umaga-Jensen, and Sotutu. Their presence not only enhances the squad’s quality but adds a strategic edge with their familiarity against top-tier southern hemisphere opposition.
For Irish veterans Peter O’Mahony and Cian Healy, this match will be a farewell to professional rugby.
Barbarians: 15 Melvyn Jaminet, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkins, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Shannon Frizell, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Peter O’Mahony (captain), 5 David Ribbans, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 2 Camille Chat, 1 Cian Healy
Reserves: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Hassane Kolingar, 18 Will Collier, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Hoskins Sotutu
21 Santiago Arata, 22 Joe Marchant, 23 Lachlan Boshier
