Big names in Baa-Baas squad

The Barbarians have made an initial selection for their match against an England XV at Twickenham on 1 June.

Wallabies exiles James O'Connor and Matt Giteau, and the All Blacks trio of Hosea Gear, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Rene Ranger have all been included.

Drew Mitchell, Aurélien Rougerie, Francois Trinh-Duc and Jimmy Cowan are the other backs in the squad, while French-based Steffon Armitage, Julien Bonnaire, Ali Williams, Carl Hayman and Ulster's John Afoa are the five forwards.

The England XV is likely to be an experimental selection, with the Test side unavailable as they play the first match of their series against the All Blacks in Auckland on 7 June.

Barbarians initial squad – James O'Connor (London Irish, Australia), Drew Mitchell (Toulon, Australia), Hosea Gear (Toulouse, New Zealand), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Clermont, New Zealand), Aurélien Rougerie (Clermont, France), Rene Ranger (Montpelier, France), Matt Giteau (Toulon, Australia), Francois Trinh Duc (Montpelier, France), Jimmy Cowan (Gloucester, New Zealand), Steffon Armitage (Toulon, England), Julien Bonnaire (Clermont, France), Ali Williams (Toulon, New Zealand), Carl Hayman (Toulon, New Zealand), John Afoa (Ulster, New Zealand).

Photo: Steve Bardens/Getty Images

Post by