Barbarians name Marchant as one of three more players to face ABs

Joe Marchant has become the latest out-of-favour England player to accept an invitation from the Barbarians to join their squad for the November 13 match in London versus an All Blacks XV, a game that will be followed by a clash with his own Harlequins team four days later on November 17.

The England utility has agreed to join up with the Scott Roberston/Ronan O’Gara-coached Baa-Baas, who had earlier named Joe Marler – Marchant’s club and country colleague – as part of their squad after he was also omitted from Eddie Jones’ national team pick.

Marchant was one of three squad additions confirmed on Tuesday by the Barbarians, who also included John Ryan, the ex-Wasps prop who took up a short-term deal this week at Munster after his Gallagher Premiership club collapsed, while O’Gara’s La Rochelle influence has resulted in Teddy Thomas of France getting a call.

A Barbarians statement read: “Three more international stars will join up with Barbarian FC ahead of the Killik Cup against All Blacks XV on Sunday, November 13. England’s Joe Marchant, Ireland’s John Ryan and France’s Teddy Thomas are set to run out for the famous invitational club to take on a New Zealand side packed with high-profile names.

“Harlequins’ Joe Marchant, who has made 13 appearances in England shirt, makes his Barbarians debut and will know what to expect after facing the Baa-Baas for an England XV in 2019.

'Me and my agent had been speaking about it for a long time'@Harlequins and @EnglandRugby 13/14 Joe Marchant is the form of his life and he credits a brave decision to try Super Rugby with the @BluesRugbyTeam with giving him an edge, writes @heagneyl ???https://t.co/kP0SPT4Jq5

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 18, 2022

“Prop John Ryan will stop off in London en route back to Ireland to join the Barbarians, fulfilling a career dream… The last of today’s confirmed players, Teddy Thomas, will be joining his Stade Rochelais head coach Ronan O’Gara in the Barbarians after moving to Les Maritimes from Top 14 rivals Racing 92.

“Popular loosehead prop Joe Marler is another huge name to make his return to the Barbarians alongside Zach Mercer (England and Montpellier), George Bridge (New Zealand and Crusaders), Camille Chat (France and Racing 92) and Josua Tuisova (Fiji and Lyon), with more big names from the world of rugby to be announced in the coming days.

“Battling for the Killik Cup, the Barbarians will go up against a very strong All Blacks XV team, with Auckland and Blues lock Patrick Tuipulotu captaining the side alongside a host of well-known names. The visiting side has eight players with Test experience – Tuipulotu, Aidan Ross, Angus Ta’avao, Asafo Aumua, Luke Jacobson, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber, and Damian McKenzie.”