Women's Rugby World Cup winner added to Susie Appleby's Barbarians squad

Barbarians Women have added a Women’s Rugby World Cup winner to their squad for next week’s fixture with Wales at Allianz Stadium.

New Zealand Black Ferns prop Amy Rule has joined the squad after Exeter Chiefs’ Premiership Women’s Rugby season came to an end with semi-final defeat against Saracens last weekend.

Also coming from Exeter are Women’s Rugby World Cup runners-up Emily Tuttosi and Alex Tessier [both Canada], while fly-half Liv McGoverne is the final Chief to join the squad. Scotland and Harlequins lock Sarah Bonar will also link up with the team.

In total the Barbarians squad boasts more than 700 Test caps and will be led by Susie Appleby and Sarah Hunter ahead of the doubleheader on Saturday 27 June. The Barbarians last played Wales in 2019 and were 29-15 winners at Cardiff Principality Stadium.

Former England and Great Britain sevens player Celia Quansah and back-row Amelia Buckland Hurry have both been released from her Trailfinders Women commitments to join the squad. Gloucester Hartpury back Rachel Lund and ex-England Red Roses back-row Rownita Marston-Mulhearn complete the squad.

Fiona Stockley, Barbarian F.C Women’s lead, said: “We are delighted to name a Barbarians squad with over 700 international caps which continues to show the statute and respect that the club holds in the game.

“Players will be coming together from around the world to prepare for the test match against Wales, who will in true Barbarians style spend a week building connections that will allow us to play with flair and passion on the 27th of June.

“Across both the men’s and women’s teams we are able to represent the club and showcase the very best of top flight rugby.

“We know the competition between the Barbarians and Wales will be fierce and will provide a great entertainment for all of the supporters joining us at Allianz Stadium for our double header match”.

Barbarians Women Squad

Forwards
Bryony Cleall (Prop, England)
Christine Belisle (Prop, Loughborough Lightning, Scotland)
Laura Delgado Dueñas (Prop, Spain)
Charli Jacoby (Prop, USA)
Carys Phillips (Hooker, Harlequins, Wales)
Emily Tuttosi (Hooker, Exeter Chiefs, Canada)
Rownita Marston-Mulhearn (Lock, Bristol Bears, England)
Poppy Leitch (Lock, England)
Amelia Buckland Hurry (Lock/back-row, Trailfinders Women)
Sarah Bonar (Back-row, Harlequins, England)
Ilaria Arrighetti (Back-row, Italy)
Emily Chancellor (Back-row, Sydney University Football Club, Australia)
Amy Rule (Prop, New Zealand)

Backs
Caity Mattinson (Scrum-half, Scotland)
Jenny Maxwell (Scrum-half, Leicester Tigers, Scotland)
Liv McGoverne (Fly-half, Exeter Chiefs)
Lagi Tuima (Fly-half/centre, Harlequins, England)
Claudia Pena (Centre, Harlequins, Spain)
Alex Tessier (Centre, Exeter Chiefs, Canada)
Rachel Lund (Centre/wing, Gloucester-Hartpury, England)
Lori Cramer (Wing/full-back, Australia)
Celia Quansah (Wing, Trailfinders Women)
Ruby Tui (Wing/full-back, New Zealand)