Four ex-England players and exiled Welsh star named in Barbarians team

Four former England players and a host of other international players have been named in the Barbarians team that will take on Northampton Saints this weekend.

Danny Cipriani, Marland Yarde, Tom Wood and Luther Burrell all start in the game at Franklin’s Gardens.

Cipriani faced off against the BaaBaas in 2018 and now finds himself starting for the famous invitational team at 10.

He’ll be joined by Burrell at 12, who is currently without a club.

Meanwhile former England back row Wood will skipper the side as he faces the Gallagher Premiership side that he captained for years.

The team also features former Wasps second row Elliot Stooke, who has been in around England squads in recent years but is yet to be capped.

The team also features Wales internationals Jonah Holmes and Owen Watkins. Holmes hasn’t featured for Wales since playing against Canada in 2021 having effectively self-exiled himself from the Wayne Pivac’s side since leaving URC side Dragons RFC for RFU Championship side Ealing Trailfinders. It effectively rules out his selection.

Former Scotland and Worcester Warriors prop Murray McCallum starts at loosehead and he is joined at hooker by former All Black Hika Elliott.

For their part Saints – who are filling a gap left by the absence of Worcester and Wasps – have also named a strong side. England loose-forward Lewis Ludlam returns to captain Northampton for the first time since October having recovered from injury.

Former Wallabies forward Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Tom Lockett make up the hosts’ engine room – with the duo of locks selected together for the first time. Alex Waller, Mike Haywood and Paul Hill make up the front row.

Fly-half Fin Smith returns to lead Northampton’s back-line, with Callum Braley continuing in the No.9. Rory Hutchinson and Matt Proctor combine in the centres, with James Ramm, Tom Collins and Courtnall Skosan continuing in an unchanged back three.

Here’s our team to face @SaintsRugby 💪

The final instalment of our four match tour 🤩#Baabaas #rugby pic.twitter.com/DC3JH4IcaD

— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 25, 2022

BARBARIANS TEAM:

15. Jonah Holmes
14. Zach Kibirige
13. Luther Burrell
12. Owen Williams
11. Marland Yarde
10. Danny Cipriani
9. Gareth Simpson
1. Murray Mccallum
2. Hika Elliot
3. Brok Harris
4. Graham Kitchener
5. Elliott Stooke
6. Ben Morris
7. Olly Robinson
8. Tom Wood (C)

REPLACEMENTS: Ikanivere, Ben Harris, Millar-mills, Ashley, Boyde, Hougaard, Hingano, Humphreys