Faf de Klerk set for immediate international return after Springboks axe

South Africa scrum-half Faf de Klerk has been named in the Barbarians matchday squad to take on Wales at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium on Saturday, just days after missing out on Rassie Erasmus’ 46-man Springboks squad for the Nations Championship.

The 34-year-old featured from the bench in the Boks’ 80-31 win over the BaaBaas at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last Saturday, but failed to make the cut for their squad, which was named soon after.

Scott Robertson swiftly snapped up the double World Cup winner for the London double-header, where the Barbarians’ men’s and women’s sides will face their Welsh counterparts.

De Klerk will be joined in the squad by compatriot Vincent Koch, while Lukhan Salakaia–Loto will also feature after missing out on the Australia squad.

After being called up by the Barbarians over the weekend, George North has been named in the squad to face the side he represented 121 times in what will be his final match of professional rugby.

Fixture

Rugby Union Hybrid Friendlies

Barbarians

31 - 33

Full-time

Wales

All Stats and Data

The squad has also welcomed an influx of Top 14 stars, with a trio of Racing 92 players looking to bounce back from their 71-17 shellacking at the hands of Toulouse last week in the semi-finals. Former England No.8 Nathan Hughes, France lock Romain Taofifénua and back-row Jordan Joseph, are part of the squad. Hughes will also reunite with his former Bristol Bears team-mate Harry Thacker in the squad.

Racing’s Parisian rivals, Stade Francais, will also be represented in the squad following their semi-final loss to Montpellier, with Yoan Tanga and Paul Alo-Emile both named.

Barbarians squad
Forwards:
Paul Alo-Emile
Lachlan Boshier
Elliot Dee
Nathan Hughes
Jack Iscaro
Jordan Joseph
Gia Kharaishvili
Vincent Koch
Liam McConnell
Izack Rodda
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
Romain Taofifénua
Yoan Tanga
Harry Thacker

Backs:
Santiago Arata
Faf de Klerk
Andrew Kellaway
Alex Nankivell
George North
Harry Plummer
Tuidraki Samusamuvodre
Tom Spring
Virimi Vakatawa
Jeremy Ward