International
O’Connor, Wright and Paisami start in star-studded Barbarians side to face Saints
The world’s most famous invitational side head to Northampton for a second time in successive seasons to lock horns with the men in Black, Green and Gold on Saturday (2 September) with the kick-off time set for 2pm and tickets still available HERE.
Saints ran out 45-39 winners on a memorable afternoon when the sides met for the first time ever back in November 2022, but the BaaBaas will be hoping to turn that result on its head this weekend and have named a side packed with international quality.
72-cap Wallaby James O’Connor starts at fly-half in the famous Black and White hoopes, with the Barbarians captained by his half-back partner Ryan Lonergan of the ACT Brumbies and Australia A.
Hunter Paisami and Filipo Daugunu boast 31 Australia caps between them, and line-up together in the centres, with Tom Wright (25 caps) at fullback and Lachlan Anderson and Dylan Pietsch (both capped by Australia A) on the wings.
Up front, eight-time Wallaby Lachlan Lonergan packs down at hooker with the NSW Waratahs’ Tom Lambert and Melbourne Robels’ Sam Talakai either side of him in the front row.
Former Saint Lukhan Salakaia-Loto unfortunately is a late withdrawal from the provisional squad announced earlier this week, but he is replaced in the BaaBaas’ second row by 16-time Japan international Uwe Helu – who partners Australia international Cadeyrn Neville in the engine room.
Rounding off the line-up for the Barbarians are flankers Lachlan Swinton and Seru Uru (capped by Australia and Australia A respectively), as well as Japanese international No.8 Faulua Makisi.
Meanwhile, amongst the replacements there is plenty more talent with the likes of Harry Johnson-Holmes, Taichi Takahashi, Harry Wilson, Kaito Shigeno and Ryohey Yamanaka – all capped at international level – looking to make an impact off the bench.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs BARBARIAN F.C.
Saturday 2 September, 2023
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 2pm
15 Tom Wright
14 Lachlan Anderson
13 Filipo Daugunu
12 Hunter Paisami
11 Dylan Pietsch
10 James O’Connor
9 Ryan Lonergan (c)
1 Tom Lambert
2 Lachlan Lonergan
3 Sam Talakai (vc)
4 Uwe Helu
5 Caderyn Neville
6 Lachlan Swinton
7 Seru Uru
8 Faulua Makisi
Replacements:
16 Shunta Nakamura
17 Kenta Kobayashi
18 Harry Johnson-Holmes
19 Taichi Takahashi
20 Harry Wilson
21 Kaito Shigeno
22 Nicholas McCurran
23 Ryohey Yamanaka
SAINTS SIDE TO FACE BARBARIAN F.C.
15 George Hendy, 14 Will Glister, 13 Tom Seabrook, 12 Tom Litchfield, 11 Jake Garside, 10 James Grayson, 9 Callum Braley; 1 Alex Waller, 2 Tom Cruse (c), 3 Paul Hill, 4 Theo Vukasinovic*, 5 Geordie Irvine, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 7 Henry Pollock, 8 Izaiha Moore-Aiono*
Replacements: Aston Gradwick-Light, Craig Wright, Elliot Millar Mills, Callum Smyth*, Ed Prowse, Kayde Sylvester, Reuben Logan, James Cherry*, Henri Lavin*, Archie McParland, Matthew Arden, Toby Thame, Oscar Daniel*, Ewan Baker
Referee: Ian Tempest
Assistant referees: Harry Walbaum and Jonathan Healy
No.4: James Pidding
Content & Images from – Barbarians Rugby
Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm contract extensions for Conor Murray and Jack Daly with Brian Gleeson to be promoted from the Academy to the senior squad next season.
Murray and Daly have signed one-year extensions with Gleeson moving up to the senior squad on a two-year deal.
Gleeson is one of five Academy players moving up to the senior squad next year with Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan, Mark Donnelly and Edwin Edogbo also signing two-year deals.
Conor Murray is one of the most decorated scrum-halfs in world rugby with 116 Ireland caps and three British & Irish Lions tours to his name.
A former St Munchin’s College student, the Garryowen man won his fifth 6 Nations title with Ireland last month and earned his second league title with Munster last season.
The 34-year-old has made 185 Munster appearances and scored 34 tries for the province to date and was named on World Rugby’s Team of the Decade in 2019.
25-year-old flanker Jack Daly came up through the ranks at Castleisland RFC and made his Munster debut against Zebre in 2020.
Daly joined the Academy in 2018, moved up to the senior squad in 2021 and plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen. A former Ireland U20 international, he made his Champions Cup debut against Toulouse in the quarter-final at the Aviva Stadium in 2022.
Try-scoring number 8 Brian Gleeson leads the charge for the Ireland Under-20s against France ©INPHO/Evan Treacy
20-year-old Gleeson moves up to the senior squad after just one year in the Academy that has seen him score one try in nine senior appearances.
Currently out of action with an ankle injury, he had already made three Champions Cup appearances before turning 20.
The powerful back-row forward was a Grand Slam winner with the Ireland U20s last year. plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen and came up through the ranks at Thurles RFC and Rockwell College.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against Scotland at Aviva Stadium (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Ireland – currently sitting top of the Six Nations table heading into Super Saturday – can clinch back-to-back Championship titles with victory over Scotland in Dublin.
Farrell has named an unchanged starting XV for the Round 5 clash, as Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash and James Lowe continue in the Ireland back three. Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki are once again selected in midfield, with Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park the starting half-backs.
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong pack down in the front row, with Joe McCarthy partnering Tadhg Beirne – who is set to win his 50th Test cap for Ireland – in the engine room.
Captain Peter O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have opted for a 5-3 split on the bench, with Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan providing the reinforcements up front, and Conor Murray, Harry Byrne and the fit-again Garry Ringrose the backline options.
Saturday’s match is live on Virgin Media One and ITV, with live radio coverage available on RTE Radio 1.
Ireland Team & Replacements (v Scotland, Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Saturday, March 16, 4.45pm)
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(39)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(5)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(71)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(55)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(30)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(13)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(34)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(63)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(25)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(75)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(9)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(49)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(104)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(61)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(40)
Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(30)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(128)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(39)
19. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(19)
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(45)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(115)
22. Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster)(3)
23. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(57).
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Peter O’Mahony captains Ireland for the Round 4 visit to London, with Hugo Keenan returning to the starting XV after recovering from injury.
Keenan joins Calvin Nash and James Lowe in the Ireland back three, with Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw continuing their midfield partnership.
Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park are retained as the half-back pairing.
In the pack, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are in the front row, with Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne named in the engine room. Captain O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have selected a 6-2 split on the bench, as Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan provide the reinforcements in the pack.
Backs Conor Murray and Ciaran Frawley complete Ireland’s Match Day 23 to face England.
Saturday’s match is live on RTÉ2 and ITV.
Ireland:
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(38)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(4)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(70)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(54)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(29)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(12)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(33)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(62)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(24)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(74)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(8)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(48)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(103)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(60)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(39)
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(29)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(127)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(38)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(80)
20. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(18)
21. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(44)
22. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(114)
23. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(3)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Munster Rugby Announce Contract Deals For Murray, Daly & Gleeson
Squad Update | Munster Prepare For Cardiff At Thomond
