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Rugby

25th May 2018

Connacht trio named in Barbarians team to play England

Jack O'Toole

Connacht trio Ultan Dillane, Denis Buckley and Niyi Adeolokun have all been named in Pat Lam’s Barbarians squad to play in Sunday’s Quilter Cup Match against England at Twickenham.

Adeolokun has been named in an explosive back three alongside Toulon pair Chris Ashton and Josua Tuisova while Dillane will partner ex-Wallabies lock Sitaleki Timani in the second-row.

Meanwhile Denis Buckley has been named at loosehead prop alongside the experienced pair of Benjamin Kayser and former All Black and Ulster prop John Afoa.

Argentinian flanker Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe will captain the side from blindside flanker with head coach Pat Lam praising the ‘high quality’ individuals he thinks can challenge England this weekend.

“It’s an exciting challenge to bring together a side in five days but everything we’ve done has been about improving our chances of winning this game,” said Lam.

“We have very high-quality individuals – and they’ve worked hard and risen to the challenge of coming together as a team, which is what we’ll need to compete with a top class international side.”

BARBARIANS TEAM

15 Chris Ashton (Toulon & England)
14 Josua Tuisova (Toulon & Fiji)
13 Semi Radradra (Toulon)
12 Josh Matavesi (Newcastle Falcons & Fiji)
11 Niyi Adeolokun (Connacht & Ireland)
10 Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors & Scotland)
9 Rhodri Williams (Bristol & Wales)
1 Denis Buckley (Connacht)
2 Benjamin Kayser (Clermont & France)
3 John Afoa (Gloucester & New Zealand)
4 Ultan Dillane (Connacht & Ireland)
5 Sateleki Timani (Clermont & Australia)
6 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (Toulon & Argentina, Captain)
7 Justin Tipuric (Ospreys & Wales)
8 Victor Vito (La Rochelle & New Zealand)

Replacements

16 Tatafu Polota-Nau (Leicester & Australia)
17 Loni Uhila (Clermont)
18 Ramiro Herrera (Stade Francais & Argentina)
19 Joe Tekori (Toulouse & Samoa)
20 Nili Latu (Newcastle Falcons & Tonga)
21 Greig Laidlaw (Clermont & Scotland)
22 Luke McAlister (Toulon & New Zealand)
23 Malakai Fekitoa (Toulon & New Zealand)

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