YouTube’s darling, the Top 14’s leading light and the All Blacks’ second highest try-scorer.
The Barbarians are coming to Limerick next month, to take on Joe Schmidt’s Ireland, and filling their team bus with international class.
Last week, Baa Baas coach Robbie Deans has named Joe Rokocoko, Rene Ranger and David Smith in his squad for May’s exhibition encounters with Ireland and England.
Today, Deans added Wales and Lions internationals Adam Jones and Alex Cuthbert to his squad.
Tight-head prop Jones is a triple Grand Slam winner who retired from international rugby this season after winning 95 caps for Wales and five for Lions. The 34-year-old moves from Cardiff Blues to Harlequins this summer. Cuthbert has scored 14 tries in 32 internationals as well as touching down for the Lions in the first Test against Australia in 2013.
Rokocoko is second highest on the list of All Blacks try-scorers of all time, Smith has more tries than any other player in the Top 14 this season and Ranger, another New Zealand international, can do this:
‘As a coach,’ said Deans, ‘the chance to combine the attacking talents of players like David, Joe and Rene in one team is an exciting opportunity.
‘All three are quality performers who have thrived for Northern and Southern Hemisphere sides and it’s a testament to the standing of the Barbarians that they are able to bring them together.
‘They’ll enjoy training and playing together as part of the same squad and I’m sure supporters in Ireland and England will enjoy watching them.’
Australia out-half Berrick Barnes, Argentina scrum-half Tomas Cubelli and New Zealand’s George Whitelock were confirmed as members of the squad earlier this year and “significant” international names will be added in the coming weeks.
Updated from piece first posted on April 2
