Rugby Bears stars selected for season finale at Twickenham
ATRIO of Bristol Bears lead a star-studded cast as the Barbarians take on the World XV at Twickenham on Sunday in the Killik Cup.
Departing Bears duo Semi Radradra and Charles Piutau line up for the World XV, while Steven Luatua packs down at No 8 for the Barbarians with Harry Thacker on the bench for Eddie Jones’ Baa
Baas side. Wales great Alun Wyn Jones will captain the Barbarians. Jones announced he is retiring from the international game on Friday having amassed 170 caps, including 12 for the British and Irish Lions, in a decision which means he will miss this autumn’s World Cup.
The 37-year-old Ospreys lock captains a side that includes Australia stars Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi.
World XV coach Steve Hansen has pressed ahead with the controversial selection of Israel Folau on the right wing.
The Rugby Football Union has decided to raise the pride flag at Twickenham for the game after Folau was sacked by Rugby Australia in 2019 because of a series of anti-gay posts on social media.
Italy flanker Michele Lamaro skippers the World XV.
The game kicks off at 2pm and will be shown live on Channel 5. Barbarians: G Anscombe, A Radwan, S Tamanivalu, S Kerevi, T Li; Q Cooper, J Maunder; A Waller, N Dolly, E Pieretto, AW Jones (capt), S Lewies, A Wainwright, K Yamamoto, S Luatua.
Replacements: H Thacker, T West, C Sadie, R Simmons, S Vailanu, F Hougaard, A Cruden, S Johnson.
World XV: C Piutau; I Folau, S Radradra, N Laumape, Sbu Nkosi; Adam Hastings, Nick Phipps; W Jones, F Brown, O Kebble, A Ratuniyarawa, H Hockings, S Negri, M Lamaro (capt), V Mata.
Replacements: E Dee, A Dell, M Street, N Cannone, J Murphy, B Hall, R Patchell, K Rasaku.