Hello Dolly! Tigers hooker gets Barbarians call-up v World XV
TWO Leicester Tigers players are set to feature for the Barbarians this weekend in their clash against the World XV on Sunday (2pm).
England hooker Nic Dolly starts for the Baa Baas having missed the entirety of the Premiership campaign after suffering a catastrophic knee injury in the penultimate round of the 2021/22 regular season.
The injury, which occurred last May, robbed the Sydney-born forward of participating in the Premiership final against Saracens and touring his home country of Australia with England that summer.
Following a lengthy rehabilitation process, Dolly did return to Tigers colours before the end of this season, and featured in both friendly fixtures against Northampton Saints in a recent double-header.
He packs down in the front row alongside Saints’ Alex Waller in a pack that features Welsh stars Alun Wyn Jones and Aaron Wainwright as well as Bristol Bears’ Steven Luatua.
A second Tiger will feature from the bench when Tom West enters proceedings. The former Wasps loosehead joined Tigers in January and went on to make 11 appearances.
However, he has played his last game for Leicester and will team up with new club Saracens this summer.
Controverisal Australian star Israel Folau starts on the wing for the World XV, who are skippered by Italy’s Michele Lamaro.
Folau, 34, was sacked by Rugby Australia in 2019 for making anti-gay comments on social media.
The RFU will be flying a Pride flag at Twickenham and World XV coach Steve Hansen has welcomed the decision, saying the stance is a “positive consequence” of Folau’s selection.
Ex-England coach Eddie Jones takes charge of the Barbarians, the first time he has returned to Twickenham since he was sacked in
December. The two teams are invitational, meaning the coaches select players from any country to participate.
Barbarians: 15. Gareth Anscombe; 14. Adam Radwan, 13. Seta Tamanivalu,
12. Samu Kerevi, 11. Tevita Li; 10. Quade Cooper (vice-capt). 9. Jack Maunder; 1. Alex Waller, 2, Nic Dolly,
3. Enrique Pieretto, 4. Alun Wyn Jones (capt), 5. Stephan Lewies. 6. Aaron Wainwright, 7. Kai Yamamoto,
8. Steven Luatua.
Replacements: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. Tom West, 18. Carlu Sadie, 19. Rob
Simmons, 20, Sione Vailanu, 21. Francois Hougaard, 22. Aaron Cruden, 23. Sam Johnson.
World XV: 15. Charles Piutau; 14. Israel Folau, 13, Semi Radradra, 12, Ngani Laumape, 11. Sbu Nkosi; 10. Adam Hastings, 9. Nick Phipps; 1. Wyn Jones, 2. Fraser Brown, 3. Oli Keeble, 4. Api Ratuniyarawa, 5. Harry Hockings, 6. Sebastian Negri, 7. Michele Lamaro (capt), 8. Vilame Mata.
Replacements: 16. Elliot Dee, 17. Allan Dell, 18. Marcus Street, 19. Niccolo Cannone, 20. Jordi Murphy, 21. Bryn
Hall, 22. Rhys Parchell, 23. Kaminieli Rasaku.
Meanwhile, four members of the Leicester Tigers Senior Academy have been named in the England Men’s U20s squad for the upcoming Georgia tour as part of preparations for the World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa next month.
Lewis Chessum will captain the side, with Finn Carnduff, Jacob Cusick and Joseph Woodward also named in the 29-man squad, which has matches in Georgia on Saturday and Thursday, June 1.