England to play Australian Barbarians
The touring England rugby squad will play two mid-week matches against an Australian Barbarians side boasting established internationals and emerging Test contenders during their visit in June.
Adding to a schedule headlined by their Cook Cup showdowns with the Wallabies on 12 June in Perth and 19 June in Sydney, England will also play the Australian Barbarians on the Tuesday before each Test as part of the Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series.
The Australian Barbarians will take on the 2003 Rugby World Cup champions and 2007 runners-up at ME Bank Stadium in Perth, home of the Western Force, on June 8.
The match will be the first the Australian Barbarians have played against a visiting international side since downing Scotland 39-34 at Penrith in 1998.
The second game against England will be staged at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford on 15 June.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans welcomed the addition of the two Australian Barbarians fixtures to the England tour schedule.
“These games provide massive benefit for both the Qantas Wallabies program and Australian Rugby as a whole,” Deans said.
“The mid-week matches we played on our spring tour last year were a great example of the benefits the additional international exposure provides.
“Quade Cooper played his way into our side for the Test against England the following weekend when we played Gloucester.
“Kurtley Beale also excelled that night, and wound up playing his first Test later in the trip.
“Luke Morahan then made his debut for the Wallabies at Cardiff, and has subsequently kicked on this year with the Queensland Reds.”
The two matches in Perth will be the first England has played in the city since starting their triumphant 2003 Rugby World Cup campaign.
The tour will also mark the return of Jonny Wilkinson to Australia, pending selection, for the first time since his memorable role in the securing of the William Webb Ellis Cup.
The England squad, after four matches in Australia, will conclude their Southern Hemisphere tour with a game against the New Zealand Maori in Napier on June 23.
© AAP 2012
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Bay35Pablo said | March 19th 2010 @ 8:46am | Report comment
Australian Barbarians. So, the Claytons Australia A program then? The one we didn’t need (and supposedly cost too much)?
AndyS said | March 19th 2010 @ 11:46am | Report comment
Making the question: are the Australian Barbarians covered under payment agreements, requiring Super 14 participation and ARU contracts? Or is it a clever way to allow the ARU/Wallabies management to give game time to anyone they want, even those outside the squad and perhaps including returning but uncontracted ex-League players, whilst pocketing the money without awkward pay claims?
Albert the RED said | March 19th 2010 @ 10:21am | Report comment
Ha ha ha yes Bay thats the one! They should play against the state teams!
formeropenside said | March 19th 2010 @ 3:21pm | Report comment
Agreed, the State teams should play some midweek games against the tourists – and it would be nice if those could be full strength teams, too. My chance of going to see “Aust Barbarians” play is about nil, but put the Reds up against a touring side and its a different story.