Wayne Pivac will face Warren Gatland in first match as Wales head coach
Wayne Pivac will take the reins in his first match in charge of Wales against the Barbarians at Principality Stadium on November 30.
Wales’ national men’s and women’s sides will face the famous invitiational side in a double-header this autumn as they line-up against the famous invitational club in back-to-back matches .
Pivac will make his bow as national coach in the first Wales men’s side to take on the Baa-baas since 2012.
Pivac, who will take over the Welsh reins following this year’s Rugby World Cup, will oversee his side for the first time in Cardiff and will be up against his predecessor in his opening match with Warren Gatland named as head coach of the Barbarians for the fixture.
Gatland, who has been at the helm of Wales for the past 12 years will leave his role following the conclusion of this autumn’s RWC but will make an immediate return to the Welsh capital and the Principality Stadium for the clash.
For Wales Women it will be a first-ever outing against the Barbarians in what will be a showcase of Welsh rugby in Cardiff.
Commenting on his return to Principality Stadium as Barbarians head coach, Gatland said: “This is set to be a very special and hugely exciting double-header.
“It will be an honour to coach the Barbarians, they symbolize the very best of rugby tradition and are an important part of the international game and I’m hugely looking forward to being part of the Baa-baas club.
“It goes without saying that this match has huge significance to me. Wales has been my home for the last 12 years and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here.
“We have had some great success with Wales and we are currently in a hugely important year, culminating at the Rugby World Cup.
“To have the opportunity to return to Cardiff post RWC 2019 is fantastic and I’m really looking forward to coaching the Barbarians in what I believe is the best rugby stadium in the world and against the best fans in the world!”
The fixture will kick off Pivac’s reign as Wales coach and he added: “It is fantastic this double-header has been announced and the day will be a great showcase for Welsh rugby.
“The Barbarians are a special side and it will be a great way to start my Wales career facing the BaaBaas and of course, Warren!
“Wales have an important five months ahead of them with the Rugby World Cup on the horizon but post that tournament, I’m looking forward to kicking off my tenure with Wales, at home in Cardiff, in what will be a really special game.
“It is an opportunity for us as coaches to get the squad together ahead of the Six Nations and it will be a great day for all the fans with two great matches on show.”
Commenting on the fixture announcement, Barbarians chairman John Spencer added: “The Barbarians have a strong ties with rugby in Wales stretching back more than a century so we’re delighted to be returning to the Principality Stadium for two matches in November.
“Warren Gatland has been a marvellous Head Coach for Wales and the British and Irish Lions, and personally he was a delight to work alongside during the 2017 tour to New Zealand. We’re honoured that he has accepted the invitation to coach the Barbarians.
“Wales players have performed with great distinction for the Barbarians for many years. That is still the case and last month Jasmine Joyce scored four tries for the Barbarians women’s team as they beat the USA.
“The Barbarians women will take on their Wales counterparts on November 30 and we believe this historic double-header will showcase the finest qualities of the sport.”
The Barbarians launched a women’s side back in 2017 and have had a heavy Welsh flavour in each team that has taken to the field since but this will be the first time Wales Women face the famous side in black and white hoops.
Alisha Butchers, Jasmine Joyce and Elinor Snowsill played in the side’s thrilling 34-33 win over USA in April, Joyce scoring four tries and Joyce and Snowsill were again in the starting XV for the 40-14 loss to England last weekend.
Former Wales Women captain Rachel Taylor will take over as Barbarians forwards coach for this match from another Welsh great in Liza Burgess.
Wales Women head coach Rowland Phillips said, “Playing the Barbarians for the first time in a double header at Principality Stadium is a huge statement of intent for women’s rugby in Wales.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase our game and shows how women’s rugby is moving forward.
“We saw the quality of the Baa-baas’ side in their recent matches against USA and England and they will no doubt bring a formidable outfit to the home of Welsh rugby in November. They have a historical tradition of playing an open, entertaining brand of rugby which will produce an exciting match to watch and be part of.
“It has been a huge honour to have three current Wales players – Elinor Snowsill, Jazz Joyce and Alisha Butchers involved in the Barbarians’ first two international games. All three made an excellent contribution to the club. It’s also great to see two Welsh coaches involved – Liza Burgess in recent matches and now Rachel Taylor. Rachel played in the Barbarians’ first match in 2017 and is cutting her teeth in coaching as Colwyn Bay head coach.”
Broadcast details and KO times for both matches will be announced in due course. Ticket prices will range from £10 to £50 for adults with £10 tickets for U16’s also available.
Comments on RugbyPass
“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
1 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
26 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
26 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
26 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
26 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
26 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
26 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
26 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to commentsHaha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
4 Go to commentshit on Lynagh was defo late and card-worthy. The other 2 are bang on OK. Hurts you at Test level if youre timing is off and the nostrils are flared. Jerry C knew when to lean in on one, Finau just needs to keep his discipline and head straight.
7 Go to commentsSlade was exceptional against Gloucester. Not only was he doing the classic Slade stuff of running amazing lines and timing passes to perfection to put his wingers into space, he was kicking goals, flying off the line smashing people and crashing into rucks like a flanker… his hair even looked on point. 😍
1 Go to commentsThat’s really sad, hope everyone involved is ok. At least he had pants on.
4 Go to commentsTo be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
1 Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
7 Go to comments