They include All Blacks Anton Oliver, Ben Blair and Mark Robinson plus Australian Rugby World Cup finalist Dan Vickerman. Among 11 new Barbarians are USA Eagle Mike Petri, Argentina’s Tomas de Vedia, England Saxons’ centre Kevin Sorrell and Cambridge University captain Jon Dawson who has played for England XV against the Baa-Baas.
Seven of the squad – Colin Charvis, Ma’ama Molitika, Oliver, Aaron Persico, Federico Pucciariello, Mark Regan and Robinson – have played for the Barbarians on their international summer tours in recent years while Vickerman appeared against the All Blacks in Twickenham in 2004.
The Barbarians’ team will be coached by ex-Ireland supremo, Eddie O’Sullivan, who reprises his role with the Baa-Baas’ team that defeated South Africa 14 months ago.
He said, “I thoroughly enjoyed my previous experience with the Barbarians at Twickenham last season and to be invited back again is a real honour which I am looking forward to tremendously.”
The squad will assemble in Llanelli on Friday lunchtime ahead of what promises to be another landmark occasion in both clubs’ history.
Before Saturday’s game, the Barbarians’ players will be presented with their match jerseys by Phil Bennett. The former Llanelli captain made 20 appearances for the Baa-Baas between 1970 and 1980, including the famous match against the All Blacks in 1973.
Barbarians’ president Micky Steele-Bodger said, “One of the traditions of our club is that we invite former Baa-Baas to present the jerseys to the modern generation and on this occasion there could be no finer individual than Phil to do this.
He played all his rugby in the true spirit of the Barbarians and, indeed, Llanelli and continues to be a marvellous ambassador for the game at large.”
The Barbarians have played the Llanelli club side on two previous occasions. In 1965, in a match to mark the opening of the new dressing rooms and dining hall at Stradey Park, the Barbarians won 28-15. Seven years later the sides met again in Llanelli’s centenary season and the Scarlets won 33-17.
Barbarians’ squad: Backs – *Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues & NZ), *Tomas de Vedia (London Irish & Argentina), *Brian Carney (Munster & Ireland), *Tom Voyce (London Wasps & England), Jamie Robinson (Cardiff Blues & Wales), *Kevin Sorrell (Saracens), *Jeremy Staunton (London Wasps & Ireland), *Gordon Ross (Saracens & Scotland), Mark Robinson (London Wasps & NZ), *Mike Petri (New York Athletic Club & USA)
Forwards – Anton Oliver (Oxford University & NZ), Mark Regan (Bristol Rugby & England), Federico Pucciariello (Munster & Italy), *Jon Dawson (Cambridge University), Ben Evans (Calvisano & Wales), *Deiniol Jones (Cardiff Blues & Wales), Daniel Vickerman (Cambridge University & Australia), Gavin Quinnell (Viadana), Aaron Persico (Calvisano & Italy), Ma’ama Molitika (Cardiff Blues & Tonga), *Steve Tandy (Ospreys), Colin Charvis (Newport Gwent Dragons & Wales)
[* – denotes new Barbarian]
*Tickets for the match, with several special offers available, can be booked via the Scarlets’ Ticket Hotline on 0871 871 8088
