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Bastareaud headlines an interesting French Babarians selection
By Ian Cameron
Toulon’s Matthieu Bastareaud will captain a French Barbarians side that is filled with snubbed former France players and a number of interesting uncapped athletes.
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It’s the second time Bastareaud has worn the French Barbarians colours, having last run out for the side 12 years ago on November 26, 2010. a game the invitational side lost 27-28 against Tonga in Grenoble.
Included in the squad are former French Tests stars like Arthur Bonneval and winger Noa Nakaitaci who earned 15 caps for Les Bleus.
There is also veteran scrumhalf Maxime Machenaud, who made 38 appearances for France.
Also of interest is the inclusion in the 23-man squad of Munster’s Antoine Frisch and Daniel Brennan, the 132kg son of former Ireland legend Trevor Brennan, who carved out a career in Toulouse in the latter years of his career after leaving Leinster.
Brennan is currently at Brive but has represented France at U18 and U20s levels previously.
Frisch joined Munter over the summer from Bristol Bears on a three-year deal. As recently as 11 days ago he was listed as injured by Munster. He featured for the Emerging Ireland side on their tour of SA, a successful trip in which they beat all three South African sides pitched against them.
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Frisch is qualified to play for Ireland, France and England currently. Bristol Bears picked him up from Rouen in the French Pro D2, but he switched to Munster, presumably with an eye to making use of his Ireland qualification.
He was born in France to a mother who is originally from Devon, hence his English qualification. He is Irish-qualified through his maternal grandmother, who hails from Dublin.
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Découvrez la composition du groupe mené par @BastaOfficiel pour affronter les Fidji au @StadePM à @MEL_Lille le 19 novembre prochain ??#BRC #EspritetJeu #Baabaas@GilbertRugby_FR @FranceRugby pic.twitter.com/7fwHX2fwst
— Barbarian Rugby Club (@Barbarian_RC) November 3, 2022
The Barbarians play Fiji on Saturday 19 November at 3pm in Lille.
