Monye, Thorn and Peinaar join Barbarians

England’s Ugo Monye, New Zealand’s Brad Thorn and South Africa’s Ruan Pienaar were today added to a 30-strong Barbarians squad to face Ireland and England.

Head coach Robbie Deans has called up players from 10 different countries with 786 international caps between them as the famous invitation club prepares to face Ireland at Thomond Park on Thursday, May 28 and an England XV at Twickenham on May 31.

Harlequins wing Monye and Leicester Tigers lock Thorn will be bringing down the curtain on their professional careers with the Barbarians, the club celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.

Monye said: “It’s always a real honour to play for the Barbarians and to be able to do so at the end of my career will be something very special. I want to go out on a high and my goal is to help this great club add to its list of victories against Ireland and England.”

Veteran lock Thorn (59 caps) and Pienaar (80 caps) add significant experience to the group that already includes British & Irish Lions Adam Jones and Alex Cuthbert, New Zealand great Joe Rokocoko, Australia’s most-capped forward George Smith and leading Aviva Premiership try scorer Thomas Waldrom.

There is strong South African contingent in the back line resources where Pienaar is joined by Zane Kirchner (Leinster), Gio Aplon (Grenoble) and Wynand Olivier (Montpellier).

Former Australia coach Deans also calls on Argentina forwards Matias Diaz, Pablo Matera and Rodrigo Tejerizo while New Zealand prop Saimone Taumoepeau and Georgian lock Konstnatin Mikautadze are drafted in from three-time European champions Toulon.