Three SA players invited by Barbarians to play Boks in November
Three South African players have been invited to play for the Barbarians when they play the Springboks for the first time in six years at Wembley Stadium on November 5.
Lions hooker Akker van der Merwe, Western Province flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis and Lions centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg are the invited players.
It’s the world famous invitational side’s first appearance at under the arch since the Olympic Centenary match against Australia in 2008 and they will be taking on the Springboks for only the eighth time since 1952 with these matches always proving to be special with players like Bryan Habana and Ruan Pienaar having played in both jerseys in recent years.
The Barbarians will return to Wembley Stadium when they take on South Africa for the first time since 2010.
It is the Barbarians’ first appearance at Wembley since the Olympic Centenary match against Australia in 2008 and they will be taking on the Springboks for the eighth time since 1952.
“Our links with South Africa date back to the first match in 1952 and playing them at Wembley will be another exciting chapter in the story,” said Barbarians president Micky Steele-Bodger.
“Many of the greatest Springboks players have represented the club with great skill and it should be a marvellous contest in the best traditions of the game. I am sure supporters of both sides will enjoy a thrilling game next November.”
SARU CEO Jurie Roux said: “The rivalry between the Boks and the Baabaas goes back many years and has provided many historic occasions.
“To play them at Wembley for the first time will add a new chapter – this was the venue for the biggest attendance at the recent Rugby World Cup in England, when close to 90,000 packed the stadium to see Ireland take on Romania.
“It will provide the Springboks will an ideal start to their European tour.”
The Baabaas are also looking to invite some overseas-based SA players if they are not selected for the Boks.