Sam Cane, Peter O'Mahony, and Conor Murray join Barbarians for historic Springboks clash

Former All Blacks captain Sam Cane and Irish rugby legends Peter O'Mahony and Conor Murray have been confirmed in the Barbarians squad for their highly anticipated match against the Springboks in Cape Town on 28th June.

The fixture will mark the first time the Barbarians face South Africa on South African soil, adding historic weight to the clash.

Together, the trio brings an impressive combined total of 352 international caps to the invitational side. Cane, who retired from Test rugby in 2024, captained the All Blacks from 2020 to 2023 and was a key part of New Zealand's 2015 World Cup-winning campaign.

O'Mahony, a former Ireland captain, earned 114 caps and played pivotal roles in five Six Nations triumphs. Murray, with 125 caps, is widely regarded as one of Ireland's finest scrum-halves and has featured in several British & Irish Lions tours.

Barbarians head coach Robbie Deans expressed excitement about the additions:

"We are in the process of finalising a really exciting squad for the match against the Springboks in Cape Town at the end of June.

"It will be a blend of high-profile global international stars and other standout performers from European clubs, Super Rugby, and the Japanese league.

Peter and Conor have been an integral part of the Irish team for nearly 15 years and both have amassed over a hundred caps for their country and represented the British & Irish Lions on a number of tours.

Sam is also a Test centurion, played in the last three Rugby World Cups, and captained the All Blacks from 2020 to 2023.

All three players' experience and leadership qualities will be invaluable during the week both on and off the field, and I am delighted they have agreed to play for the Barbarians in this historic game."

Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus acknowledged the calibre of players selected by the Barbarians:

"They've named the first three players who will be running out onto the pitch – Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray, and Sam Cane – and we have no doubt they will name several more top-class players in the coming weeks, so this match will set the tone for us to switch into full-out competitive mode from the outset.

"I've worked with Peter and Conor before, and we know Sam very well – they are world-class players and will provide us with a great test at the start of a big season."

The match, scheduled at the DHL Stadium, will serve as the Springboks’ opening fixture of the 2025 season.