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RugbyX fills the last place of its new tournament roster by inviting the world's most loved team
The Barbarians have confirmed they are the final competing men’s team at RugbyX, the international tournament which will take place at The London O2, London on October 29.
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RugbyX is a new, World Rugby and RFU-approved format that sees international teams from Argentina, England, USA, France and Ireland competing with the Baa-Baas in a single-day tournament format.
Barbarians chairman John Spencer said: “Since our foundation in 1890, the Barbarians have been committed to combining the best of attacking rugby with the traditions of enjoyment and sportsmanship for which our club and our sport is famous throughout the world.
“We are delighted to bring those traditions to this most innovative format of rugby at the O2 arena in London. We look forward to facing the world’s leading international sevens teams in this new fast-paced, five versus five format of the game we love.”
It means the autumn will see the Barbarians in action in different international formats at three venues. After the club’s visit to the O2 arena, the 15-a-side action starts when Eddie Jones will be in charge of the men’s side against Fiji at Twickenham on November 16. Then both men’s and women’s teams take the field against Wales at the Principality Stadium on November 30 when Warren Gatland will be coaching the men’s side.
NEWS ?
We're not ones for convention…So this greatly appeals ??
We can officially confirm we have joined @RugbyXOfficial & will play at the @TheO2 in October ??
The O2's used to Ed Sheeran, Beyonce & Boyzone…Hopefully we'll fit in ??#Baabaas #rugby #rugbyunited ? pic.twitter.com/aW1UtdGMHp
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) June 28, 2019
RugbyX’s technical director Ben Ryan said: “RugbyX is bringing world-leading international sevens teams into Europe’s No1 entertainment destination, the O2 Arena, for an adapted form of the game we love. RugbyX will provide new and existing fans with an opportunity to support their national team in a brand new rugby environment.
“At RugbyX we are looking to instil some key principles with this new format of the game which consist of teamwork, participation and inclusion.
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? We have our final line-up ?
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Who do you think will take home the first EVER RugbyX trophy? ? pic.twitter.com/dzNeZCNzlY— RugbyX (@RugbyXOfficial) June 28, 2019
“These values are the fundamentals of the Barbarians’ existence so to have them participate at RugbyX is just brilliant. Additionally, the wealth of experience and talent that the Barbarians have to select from will make them one of the strongest competitors at the O2 in October.”
RugbyX will be played under existing rugby union laws in respect of foul play and breakdown penalties, but will include some law-trial adaptations in order to encourage simple and fast gameplay, including: five players per team, 10-minute matches with no half time, no lineouts and no conversions.
WATCH: Going Pro, the new RugbyPass documentary on the Saracens Women’s team
Comments on RugbyPass
To me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
30 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
30 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
30 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
30 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
30 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
30 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
30 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to comments