New Zealand Barbarians

The New Zealand Barbarians, nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", are an invitational rugby union team which has been a major part of New Zealand rugby since the team was founded in 1937 by two ex-All Blacks, Ronald Bush and Hubert McLean, who captained their first game (against Auckland) in 1938.[1]

New Zealand Barbarians
UnionNew Zealand Rugby Union
Nickname(s)Baa-Baas
Founded1937
Ground(s)Eden Park
Coach(es)Scott McLeod
Team kit
Official website
www.barbarianrugby.co.nz

The club is based in New Zealand, at Eden Park in Auckland. The idea came from the concept of the Barbarian F.C..

To mark the club's 50th Jubilee, an unbeaten five match tour to the British Isles was undertaken in March 1987, two months before the inaugural RUWC, where they recorded wins against Leicester (33-3), Wanderers (Dublin) (34-3), Ballymena (29-4), Cornwall (63-9). They also produced a devastating performance in Cardiff, beating the UK Baa-Baas 68-16. There were thirteen All Blacks in the party of 22 and a further six future caps, with Wayne Smith being drafted in from Italy as a replacement for one game. New Zealand were emerging from a turbulent 1986, the year of the rebel Cavaliers tour to South Africa and the "Baby Blacks" tests, the subsequent reintegration of the Cavaliers into the Bledisloe Cup games, and the infamous Battle of Nantes. Eight players who had survived November in Nantes toured, as did four Cavaliers.

Jubilee Tour Party 1987:

Management:

Peter Murdoch (Coach)* , Kevin Barry (Team Manager)*, D.E.Kirk (Auckland) Captain*, Clive Murdoch (Masseur)

Back Three:

G.J.L. Cooper (Auckland)*,C.I.Green (Canterbury)*C, D.J.Halligan (Waikato), J.J.Kirwan (Auckland)*

Centres:

B.J. McCahill (Auckland)F, N.J.Schuster (Wellington)F, J.T.Stanley (Auckland)*

Half Backs:

S.J.Bachop (Otago)F, I.B.Deans (Canterbury)F, W.R. Smith (Canterbury)*C

Front Row:

J.A.S.Buchan (Canterbury)F, W.G.Bunn (Taranaki), S.B.T.Fitzpatrick (Auckland)*, S.C.McDowall (Auckland)*C, B.McGrattan (Wellington)*

Locks:

B.L.Anderson (Wairapa-Bush)*, M.Weedon (Bay of Plenty), G.W.Whetton (Auckland)*C

Back Row:

M.R.Brewer (Otago)*, M.N.Jones (Auckland)F, A.J.Whetton (Auckland) *C, D.A.Williams (Wellington)

*= All Black, F= Future All Black, C= Cavalier


Subsequent NZ Barbarian trips to the UK were undertaken in 1996 and 2003.

The November 1996 matches were part of the ERFU's 125th celebrations with a warm-up fixture against the North Of England played in the snow at Huddersfield ahead of a "test" against England the week after.John Hart's 24-man squad, captained by Sean Fitzpatrick featured 19 All Blacks and four future All Blacks and won both fixtures, an 86-0 win against the North of England for whom twelve first choice selections had withdrawn from the team on the preceding Wednesday and a 34-19 victory against England at Twickenham.

Tour Party 1996:

Back three:

J.T Lomu (Counties)*, C.M.Cullen (Manawatu)*,G.M. Osborne (North Harbour)*, J.Vidiri (Counties)F

Centres:

N.A.Ieremia (Wellington)*, M.R.Ranby (Manawatu)F, L.Stensness (Auckland)*

Half-backs:

J.W.Marshall (Canterbury)*, A.P Mehrtens (Canterbury)*, C.J Spencer (Auckland)*, M.D. Robinson (North Harbour)F

Front Row:

M.R. Allen (Taranaki)*, O.M.Brown (Auckland)*, M.Collins (Waikato), S.B.T. Fitzpatrick (Capt.) (Auckland)* A.D.Oliver (Otago)*

Locks:

R.M.Brooke (Auckland)*, I.D. Jones (Auckland)*, G.L.Taylor (Northland)*

Back Row:

A.F.Blowers (Auckland)*,C.S.Davis (Manawatu)*, M.N.Jones (Auckland)*, D.G.Mika (Auckland)F, T.C.Randell (Otago)*

The 2003 match played at Twickenham was viewed at the time as something of a festival affair to celebrate the home country's recent RUWC success. Falling as it did during the British, Irish and European club championships, both sides struggled to assemble "full strength squads" indeed the England XV featured only five RUWC cup winners.Contractual difficulties with clubs releasing players resulted in the NZ Barbarians side being deemed - in comparison to previous touring parties - as at best only "competitive" and the England XV side ran out very comfortable winners, 42-17.

Match day squad:

Back three:

G.P."Jorrie" Muller (Lions & South Africa), R.L Gear (North Harbour)F, E.Taione (Newcastle Falcons & Tonga), D.R.Albanese (Leeds Tykes & Argentina)

Centres:

D.L Gibson (Leicester & NZ)*, K.R.Lowren (Waikato)*, T.A. Vili (Border Reivers & Samoa)

Half backs:

D.D. Lee (Otago)*, G.W. Jackson (Bay of Plenty), B.Willis (Harlequins)

Front row:

A.K.Hore (Taranaki)*, M.R.Hurter (Newcastle Falcons & South Africa), D.T Manu (Waikato), S.A.A."Ace" Tiatia (Harlequins & Samoa), T.D.Woodcock (North Harbour)*

Locks:

T.V.Flavell (North Harbour)*, T.S. Mailing (Otago)*, N.M.C. Maxwell (Canterbury)*

Back row:

J.Blackie (Otago), S.Harding (Otago)*, T.C. Randell (Saracens & NZ)* (Capt), X.J.Rush (Auckland)*


The New Zealand Barbarians were also selected for the All Blacks trial replacing the 'Possibles XV' and in 2009 a New Zealand Barbarians under 85 kg Team toured Australia winning both of their games. The team played against the Māori All Blacks in 2010 at Okara Park, losing 31 – 37 before a crowd of 9,000. A Middleweight Barbarian side was also selected in 2011 to play four games. In 2015, the New Zealand Barbarians won over the Māori All Blacks 17–34.

Playing kit and symbol

The New Zealand Barbarians wear scarlet red jerseys with white shorts and socks. The symbol of the New Zealand Barbarians is a white leaping lamb covered in blood.

Current squad

New Zealand Barbarians squad to play the British and Irish Lions on 3 June 2017.[2]

  • Head Coach – Clayton McMillan

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Date of birth (age) Club/province Union
Sam Anderson-Heather Hooker (1988-02-15) 15 February 1988 Otago New Zealand
Andrew Makalio Hooker (1992-01-22) 22 January 1992 Tasman / Crusaders New Zealand
Tolu Fahamokioa Prop (1991-05-05) 5 May 1991 Wellington Tonga
Oliver Jager Prop (1995-06-05) 5 June 1995 Canterbury / Crusaders Ireland
Marcel Renata Prop (1994-01-24) 24 January 1994 Auckland New Zealand
Aidan Ross Prop (1995-10-25) 25 October 1995 Bay of Plenty New Zealand
Josh Goodhue Lock (1995-06-13) 13 June 1995 Northland / Blues New Zealand
Keepa Mewett Lock (1987-05-10) 10 May 1987 Bay of Plenty New Zealand
James Tucker Lock (1991-08-05) 5 August 1991 Waikato / Chiefs New Zealand
Lachlan Boshier Flanker (1994-11-16) 16 November 1994 Taranaki / Chiefs New Zealand
Mitchell Dunshea Flanker (1995-11-18) 18 November 1995 Canterbury / Crusaders New Zealand
Matt Matich Flanker (1991-07-10) 10 July 1991 Northland New Zealand
Peter Rowe Number 8 (1981-12-07) 7 December 1981 Wanganui New Zealand
Jack Stratton Scrum-half (1994-08-21) 21 August 1994 Canterbury New Zealand
Richard Judd Scrum-half (1992-05-18) 18 May 1992 Bay of Plenty New Zealand
Bryn Gatland Fly-half (1995-05-10) 10 May 1995 North Harbour New Zealand
Dwayne Sweeney Centre (1984-08-08) 8 August 1984 Waikato New Zealand
Inga Finau Centre (1994-08-21) 21 August 1994 Taranaki New Zealand
Jonah Lowe Wing (1996-05-09) 9 May 1996 Hawke's Bay New Zealand
Sevu Reece Wing (1997-02-13) 13 February 1997 Waikato Fiji
Sam Vaka Wing (1992-10-26) 26 October 1992 Counties Manakau New Zealand
Luteru Laulala Fullback (1995-05-30) 30 May 1995 Counties Manukau New Zealand
Junior Ngaluafe Fullback (1991-11-24) 24 November 1991 Southland New Zealand

Representatives

See also

References
  1. Ron Palenski; Rod Chester; Neville McMillan (2005). The Encyclopaedia of New Zealand Rugby (4th ed.). Hodder Moa, Auckland. p. 138. ISBN 1 86971 026 6.
  2. Provincial Barbarians squad confirmed
  3. "All Blacks website". stats.allblacks.com. All Blacks and New Zealand Rugby. 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
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