Rugby: Southerners join Barbarians

Fumiaki Tanaka
Fumiaki Tanaka
A couple of Highlanders and a former southern favourite have been picked to play for the Barbarians next month.

The Barbarians will play Australia on November 1 in London and then take on the Leicester Tigers on November 4.

The side is coached by Blues mentor Sir John Kirwan.

It was announced yesterday Highlanders winger Patrick Osborne and Highlanders halfback Fumiaki Tanaka would join the squad for the two games.

Also included in the side was former Highlander and All Black loose forward Adam Thomson.

It was confirmed last week Thomson had signed for the Reds for next season.

The Highlanders are due to be announced at the end of the month and will then come together to start pre-season training at the end of next month.

Kirwan has also announced former All Blacks Francis Saili and Frank Halai in his squad.

Chiefs fullback Tim Nanai-Williams and hookers James Parsons, of the Blues, and Mo Schwalger, of the Chiefs, are also included in the squad, which has some star power but will struggle with its cohesion and team work.

Australian winger Nick Cummins, who moved to Japan earlier in the year, is also in the squad along with South African-born players such as Jaques Botes and Heinrich Brussow.

The match against the Wallabies was not originally on the IRB schedule but has been arranged to help the finances of the Australian Rugby Union.

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