Mason set for rugby debut with Barbarians

I say give....a couple of games in union before we decide.... realistically the only position I can see him play is Number 8....and even that is a stretch....

Bulldogs? Who did he play for in 1997?

Why so serious. Playing for the Ba Bas is not a royal decree. I cant wait to see how the "Aussie Thug" goes. And good luck to him. Should be fun.

'The BaaBaas are a invite team who bases themselves on thrilling the crowd. Its entertainment.' The Barbarians haven't thrilled me in a long time. Can't see the point of them anymore, especially when they dole out the coaching reins to such oafs as Saint-Andre, Mallett and Young.

What a motley team !! Some great players - Howlett, Hayman, Michalak and G Smith mixed with all the colours of the rugby rainbow. If Mason and Basteraud are rooming together lock up your daughters and lock down the pubs !!

I know what the BaaBaas are. What point are you trying to make? He doesn't deserve to be there at the expense of others. There are other uncapped players in the team so they aren't inviting him for that reason. As for entertainment, how is someone that's never played the game going to "thrill the crowd"? by doing a big shoulder charge?

Tom visser.. Tom visser.. Isnt that the 'Flying Dutchman'?

you take things seriously don't you? The BaaBaas are a invite team who bases themselves on thrilling the crowd. Its entertainment.

Willie's manager really does deserve his fat fee for the Toulon deal because he has truly earned this by pulling off this con, and what is it, a 2 year deal! Prediction - Toulon will dump him after 2 months. They don't pay too much attention to contracts over there either.

and mad

The cat and I both think this is a stitch up.

Very disappointing that the Barbarians are giving jerseys away so cheaply. Invitations are supposed to be for players whose rugby is of a good standard (he's never played rugby) and that they behave themselves on and off the field (this is laughable in his case). There is no discrimination on the basis of a player's race, colour or creed and since 1890, players from over 25 different countries have worn the famous black and white hoop jersey. Once invited a player becomes a life member of the club. How disappointing that someone that has given their whole life to the game of rugby misses out to this guy.

There are other uncapped players in this team - they don't need him for that role. If they are looking however I have played much more rugby, undersatnd the laws and how the game flows and am also uncapped, just sitting by the phone waiting for the call...............

My god father...what union snobbery. Once again some of my fellow union tragic's show the elitist and old school underbelly. Yes, I cant stand Mason...at least his media persona. Professional sport has moved on gents, get use to it please. The BaaBaas have always been about being different and, as someone mentions above, they always select one uncapped player. As for Masons union career, well I agree that it looks like he will struggle. The fella has hardly been at the top of RL over recent years so I cant see how a code switch at 31 will travel well. but lads, comments like ''devalues the Jersey'' are a tad dramatic.

And they bag the AFL for playing Hulau before they are ready...

You don't have to wear socks with thongs or UG boots.

This will be nothing short of "hillarious" or a "disaster" .....the two words in this instance being synonomous!

He certainly is a large promotional tool. Boom Boom!

I just wonder whose socks he'll wear?

As other roarers have stated, an embarssing decsion by the barbarians. In my eyes they have lost a lot of credibility. a sad day. Willie Mason stands for everything that is bad about the professional age.