The Barbarians squad set to tackle the Springboks on Saturday is laden with Test players, but it will however have some South African flavour.
As reported this week, Stormers hard man Ruben van Heerden has been included in Robbie Deans’ squad to take on the Springboks in Saturday’s non-cap match at the Cape Town Stadium. He’ll add South African grunt to the team and may feel he has a point to prove to Rassie Erasmus and his coaching staff.
Van Heerden recently earned recognition as the Vodacom URC’s Tackle Machine after recording a league-leading 98% tackle success rate from 171 attempts during the regular season.
The Barbarians unveiled a 23-man squad on Tuesday and it appears Van Heerden is in line to form a second-row partnership with former Western Province lock David Ribbans, who has made 11 appearances for England – most recently at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
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The squad, coached by Robbie Deans, features 18 players with Test experience from across the world, including All Blacks Hoskins Sotutu, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Leicester Fainga’anuku and Mark Telea.
Furthermore, Joe Marchant, Will Collier (both England), Melvyn Jaminet, Camille Chat, Hassane Kolingar (all France), Santiago Arata Perrone (Uruguay) and Paul Alo-Emile (Samoa) are capped at Test level.
A whopping 11 Kiwis make up the Barbarians squad which include former All Blacks Sam Cane and Shannon Frizell.
Irish veterans Cian Healy and Peter O’Mahony will add the experience of more than 250 combined Test caps to the forward pack.
BARBARIANS SQUAD:
Props: Cian Healy (Leinster), Hassane Kolingar (Racing 92), Will Collier (Castres), Paul Alo-Emile (Stade Francais)
Hookers: Camille Chat (Lyon), Ricky Riccitelli (Blues)
Locks: David Ribbans (Toulon), Ruben van Heerden (Stormers), Josh Beehre (Blues)
Loose forwards: Hoskins Sotutu (Blues), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Sam Cane (Tokyo Sungoliath), Shannon Frizell (Toshiba), Lachlan Boshier (Wild Knights)
Scrumhalves: Tawera Kerr Barlow (La Rochelle), Santiago Arata Perrone (Castres)
Flyhalf: Josh Jacomb (Chiefs)
Centres: Peter Umaga-Jensen (Hurricanes), Leicester Fainga’anuku (Toulon), Joe Marchant (Stade Francais)
Wings: Mark Tele’a (Blues), Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (Highlanders)
Fullback: Melvyn Jaminet (Toulon)
Baabaas Tour Squad List*
⚫️⚪️⚫️
1/31. Cian Healy ☘️
2. Will Collier 🏴
3. Hassane Kolingar 🇫🇷
4. Paul Alo-Emile 🇼🇸
5. Camille Chat 🇫🇷
6. John Ricky Riccitelli 🇳🇿
7. David Ribbans 🏴
8. Ruben van Herdeen 🇿🇦
9. Josh Beehre 🇳🇿
10. Hoskins Sotutu 🇳🇿* Squad number not position 😉
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) June 24, 2025
Baabaas Tour Squad List*
⚫️⚪️⚫️
2/311. Peter O’Mahony ☘️
12. Sam Cane 🇳🇿
13. Shannon Frizell 🇳🇿
14. Lachlan Boshier 🇳🇿
15. Tawera Kerr Barlow 🇳🇿
16. Santiago Arata Perrone 🇺🇾
17. Melvyn Jaminet 🇫🇷
18. Josh Jacomb 🇳🇿* Squad number not position 😉
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) June 24, 2025
Baabaas Tour Squad List*
⚫️⚪️⚫️
3/319. Peter Umaga-Jensen 🇳🇿
20. Leicester Faingaʻanuku 🇳🇿
21. Mark Telea 🇳🇿
22. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens 🇳🇿
23. Joe Marchant 🏴* Squad number not position 😉#Baabaas #QatarAirwaysCup 🏆
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) June 24, 2025
Photo by Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images
