Wales and Barbarians ready to add to rich history

ByChris Kirwan

BBC Sport Wales

Wales will add another chapter to the historic fixture against the Barbarians when playing a double-header in Twickenham at the end of the month.

Steve Tandy's men will warm up for their Nations Championship Tests when facing the invitational side at 14:00 BST on Saturday, 27 June before Sean Lynn's women take to the field at Allianz Stadium at 17:00 BST.

The teams played a double-header in Cardiff seven years ago and now meet at the home of English rugby in an event hosted by Barbarians.

Before the start of another summer of international rugby, BBC Sport Wales looks back at the historic fixture.

The first of 11 meetings between Wales' men and Barbarians took place at Cardiff Arms Park in 1915, with the Baa-Baas winning 26-10.

The centenary of the Welsh Rugby Union was marked in 1990 against a star-studded side featuring Nick Farr-Jones, David Campese, Jeremy Guscott, Eric Rush, Philippe Saint-Andre, Ian Jones and Mike Teague, who took the spoils 31-24.

That fixture saw Wales award caps, just as they did in 2011 ahead of the Rugby World Cup and a year later, which helped Martyn Williams bid farewell by becoming a centurion.

Test novices in Tandy and Lynn's squads will not win first caps by featuring against the Barbarians this time.

Barbarians won uncapped meetings with Wales in Cardiff in 2001, 2002 and 2003 before a first fixture in England in 2004.

The Mike Ruddock era started with a 42-0 victory at Bristol's Ashton Gate, with the Baa-Baas nilled for the first time since 1978.

Wales men last played the Barbarians in November 2023 when Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric said farewell to Principality Stadium for the visitors, while Leigh Halfpenny made his last appearance for his country.

Jones scored for the Baa-Baas, but Warren Gatland's men ran out 49-26 winners.

Gatland was in the other changing room in November 2019 when in charge of Barbarians after bringing his first spell as Wales coach to an end after the World Cup.

Wayne Pivac enjoyed a winning start to his reign as the hosts won 43-33, scoring six tries to four.

The 2012 fixture in Cardiff was also won by Wales, who featured Martyn Williams on his international century while Shane Williams said goodbye with the Baa-Baas.

Barbarians' previous victory in the fixture came in 2011 thanks to Isa Nacewa's last-minute try against a Wales side that featured debutant Taulupe Faletau plus Gavin Henson on his first international appearance for two years.

Barbarians made history in 2017 when playing a first women's fixture – with the Welsh pair of Elen Evans and Rachel Taylor featuring against Munster.

Two years later the Baa-Baas – coached by Jo Yapp, who will lead the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand next year, with the help of Taylor – faced Wales for the first time.

They ran out 29-15 winners at Principality Stadium with Dyddgu Hywel among their try scorers, while Lisa Neumann, Keira Bevan and Alex Callender went over for Wales in front of 12,600 supporters.

The Barbarians have strong roots in Wales thanks to their Easter tours, which featured fixtures against Penarth, Cardiff, Swansea and Newport.

Of course, the Baa-Baas' most famous moment was a try scored by a Welshman in Cardiff.

Gareth Edwards' length of the field effort against New Zealand in 1973 is widely regarded as the greatest try ever scored.

The Carwyn James-coached Baa-Baas won at the Arms Park and enjoyed a second success against the All Blacks in December 2009, with the help of three Welshmen.

Centre Jamie Roberts started and full-back Leigh Halfpenny and number eight Andy Powell came off the bench in a 25-18 triumph, with South Africa wing Bryan Habana scoring a hat-trick.

Wales will hope that Barbarians do not claim another international scalp in London as they prepare for the next stage of Tandy's rebuild.

Men's fixtures

Women's fixture