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Seven players to bid farewell to Test rugby for Barbarians

270 days ago

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 05: Kendra Cocksedge of New Zealand leaves the field after winning the Rugby World Cup 2021 Semifinal match between New Zealand and France at Eden Park on November 05, 2022, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

Seven international players are set to play their final international rugby matches as they line up for the Barbarians against the Springbok Women on Saturday 7 September at the DHL Stadium.

The recently named squad is made up of 23 players, seven of whom will bow out in the famous black and white stripes.

Of the seven are three former England players and one representative from the USA, Wales, Ireland, and New Zealand.

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

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The most-capped Black Fern of all time, Kendra Cocksedge, will be flying the flag for the current World Champions after announcing her retirement following their victory over England in 2022.

Over the course of her 15-year career, Cocksedge earned 68 Test caps, scored 382 points, and won three Rugby World Cup titles.

In 2015 she was named World Rugby’s international Women’s Player of the Year and in 2019 she became the first woman to win the Kelvin Tremain Memorial Trophy for Player of the Year.

In addition, Cocksedge was just the fourth woman to reach 100 matches for Canterbury.

Ten years after winning the 2014 Rugby World Cup with England, Rachael Burford will bid farewell to international rugby playing alongside World Cup-winning teammates Laura Keates, Rochelle Clark, and Lydia Thompson.

Burford earned 84 caps for England and was involved in four World Cups and two Six Nations Grand Slams.

Thompson, who was ruled out of most of the 2014 World Cup campaign through injury after scoring two tries in England’s opening match, went on to feature at a further two RWCs and will make her final international appearance for the Barbarians with 47 England caps to her name.

She also won a bronze medal with England sevens at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Emily Scott, who represented England in addition to playing for Team GB and England Sevens at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and 2018 Commonwealth Games respectively, will also mark her final international involvement after announcing her retirement earlier in the year.

Scott and Burford both represented Harlequins together and were part of the 2021 Premier 15s title, with fly-half Scott also previously winning the competition with Saracens.

Former Ireland captain Claire Molloy retired from international rugby in 2021 after representing the XVs side at three Rugby World Cups.

The flanker captained Ireland sevens at the World Cup in 2013, the same year that she was involved in Ireland’s Six Nations Grand Slam, and led the XVs side at their home World Cup in 2017.

She announced she was stepping away from rugby in July, calling time on her career after playing for Bristol Bears for two seasons.

Welsh prop Cerys Hale represented her country on 49 occasions and at three World Cups. Her final season culminated in winning back-to-back PWR titles with Gloucester-Hartpury, and will continue to be involved in rugby in her role as Dragons Women’s Pathway Manager.

The USA’s Alycia Washington will also play her last international match in the black and white Barbarians jersey following the announcement of her retirement last Friday.

Washington made her debut for the USA Eagles in 2015 against the Red Roses, and was involved in their best-ever finish at a Rugby World Cup since 1991 when they finished fourth in 2017. The second-row won 26 international caps and co-founded the XV Foundation in 2020.

The match against the Springbok Women will kick off prior to the men’s Rugby Championship fixture between the Springboks and All Blacks.

The Springbok Women are in the process of preparing for WXV 2, which they will host for a second year this September.

Barbarian Women to face South Africa

Forwards:

Kathryn Buggy (Ireland)

Rochelle Clarke (England)

Ciara Cooney (Ireland)

Cerys Hale (Wales)

Laura Keates (England)

Joanna Kitlinski (USA)

Rownita Marston-Mulhearn (England)

Charmaine McMenamin (New Zealand)

Abi Meyrick (Wales)

Claire Molloy (Ireland)

Sera Naigama (Australia)

Alycia Washington (USA)

Backs:

Rachael Burford (England)

Kendra Cocksedge (New Zealand)

Kathryn Dane (Ireland)

Cheta Emba (USA)

Carla Hohepa (New Zealand)

Sarah Law (Scotland)

Rachel Lund (England)

Celia Quansah (England)

Amber Reed (England)

Emily Scott (England)

Lydia Thompson (England)

Coaching staff:

Head Coach: Linda Itunu (New Zealand)

Assistant Coach: Patricia Garcia Rodriguez (Spain)

Barbarian Women Director: Fiona Stockley (England)

Team Manager: Anita Velinova (Finland)

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 12 days ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 12 days ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 12 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 12 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 12 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 12 days ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍