Barbarians name an Australian-dominated squad to play Northampton

The Barbarians have confirmed the 25-strong squad they have assembled in England for a tour that starts at Northampton on Saturday and moves onto Bristol on September 7.

It was June when it was confirmed that Australian quartet Jason Gilmore, Berrick Barnes, Nathan Grey and Laurie Fisher would take charge of the invitational side, and they have now named their squad for this weekend’s Franklin’s Gardens game which includes 13 players who started for Australia A last weekend in Paris.

The Wallabies reserves squad overturned a 12-14 half-time deficit to beat Rugby World Cup qualifiers Portugal 30-17 and only Pete Samu and Bernard Foley from that starting XV have not followed on to represent the Barbarians.

Seventeen of the players included by Gilmore and co are attached to Australian Super Rugby Pacific clubs, with eight Japanese-based players making up the remainder of the squad.

A Northampton statement read: “The Barbarians, the world’s most famous invitational side, head to Northampton for a second time in successive seasons to lock horns on Saturday with the kick-off time set for 2pm.

“Saints ran out 45-39 winners on a memorable afternoon when the sides met for the first time ever back in November 2022 – with likes of Saints legends Tom Wood and Luther Burrell joining international stars Danny Cipriani, Owen Williams and Francois Hougaard in the famous Black and White hooped jerseys.

“The Baa-Baas will once again be packed full of international-quality talent for this weekend’s match in Northampton, with 10 players capped by Australia as well as five capped by Japan named in the squad.

“Wallaby backs James O’Connor (72 caps), Tom Wright (25 caps), Hunter Paisami (24 caps) and Harry Wilson (12 caps) are all included by the invitational side, with former Saint Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (30 caps) also making a return to the hallowed cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens turf after departing the club at the end of last season.

“Ryohei Yamanaka (21 caps) and Kaito Shigeno (13 caps) headline the list of Japanese internationals, with the Barbarians set to be led by an Australian coaching quartet of Jason Gilmore, Laurie Fisher, Berrick Barnes, and Nathan Grey.”

Barbarians (vs Northampton, Saturday)

Forwards (14):

Josh Canham (Melbourne Rebels, Australia A)

Harry Johnson-Holmes (NSW Waratahs)

Kenta Kobayashi (Tokyo Sungoliath)

Tom Lambert (NSW Waratahs)

Lachlan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies, Australia)

Faulua Makisi (Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay, Japan)

Shunta Nakamura (Suntory Sungoliath, Japan U20s)

Cadeyrn Neville (ACT Brumbies, Australia)

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Melbourne Rebels, Australia)

Kanji Shimokawa (Suntory Sungoliath, Japan)

Lachlan Swinton (NSW Waratahs, Australia)

Sam Talakai (Melbourne Rebels, Australia)

Seru Uru (Queensland Reds, Australia A)

Harry Wilson (Queensland Reds, Australia)

Backs (11):

Lachie Anderson (Melbourne Rebels, Australia A)

Filipo Daugunu (Queensland Reds, Australia)

Ryan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies, Australia A)

Nicholas McCurran (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo)

James O’Connor (Queensland Reds, Australia)

Hunter Paisami (Queensland Reds, Australia)

Dylan Pietsch (NSW Waratahs, Australia A)

Kaito Shigeno (Toyota Verblitz, Japan)

Taichi Takahashi (Toyota Verblitz, Japan)

Tom Wright (ACT Brumbies, Australia)

Ryohei Yamanaka (Kobelco Kobe Steelers, Japan)