TJ Perenara will captain a star-studded Barbarian F.C. side to take on South Africa in the YesPlay Cup on Saturday – kick off at 15h00.
The 89-cap All Black is one of 19 internationals from 11 different nations coming together for the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium clash against the world champions.
Having represented the famous invitational club against Fiji in 2013, Perenara partners Toulon and Argentina ace Tomas Albornoz at half-back.
Munster’s Alex Nankivell partners France international Virimi Vakatawa. Scotland and British & Irish Lions wing Duhan van der Merwe reunites with former schoolmate Warrick Gelant, who faces his countrymen, while Wallabies wing Andrew Kellaway completes the back three.
There is plenty of size, power and experience in the pack with Gloucester’s Argentinian Mayco Vivas, Dragons RFC and Wales hooker Elliot Dee and Edinburgh and Scotland tight-head D’Arcy Rae forming the front-row.
Wester Force and Los Pumas lock Franco Molina partners Bayonne’s Alex Moon in a towering second-row.
Harlequins and Argentina stalwart Guido Petti and Panasonic Wild Knights’ Lachlan Boshier are named on the flanks with Samoa sensation Miracle Fai’ilagi pulling on the number eight jersey.
Barbarian F.C head coach Scott Robertson said: “We are all really excited for Saturday afternoon. To play against the world champions in South Africa is an awesome opportunity.
“We have embraced the Barbarians spirit and tradition this week, coming together as a group and enjoying each other’s company in Cape Town.
“It’s a team packed with talent, guys who have come from all over the world and have a great chance to showcase their ability in Gqeberha.
“We want to express ourselves and do the famous black and white jersey proud.”
There is a strong South American flavour to the replacements bench with Los Pumas Lionel Oviedo and Pedro Delgado named alongside Uraguay’s Santiago Arata.
Barbarian FC Team:
Barbarian F.C. Warrick Gelant; Andrew Kellaway, Virimi Vakatawa, Alex Nankivell, Duhan van der Merwe; Tomás Albornoz, TJ Perenara (capt); Mayko Vivas, Elliot Dee, D’Arcy Rae, Franco Molina, Alex Moon, Guido Petti, Lachlan Boshier, Miracle Fai’ilagi.
Replacements: Leonel Oviedo, Oli Kebble, Pedro Delgado, Izack Rodda, Liam McConnell, Santiago Arata, Harry Plummer, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre.
Related: Exciting teams named for Saturday’s Gqeberha double-header
Barbarians Origins and Founding:
The Barbarians Football Club, affectionately known as the “Baa-Baas,” has a rich history rooted in the principles of fellowship and the promotion of attacking, high-quality rugby.
Conception: The club was conceived in 1890 by William Percy Carpmael, a former Cambridge and Blackheath forward. During a tour of Yorkshire and the Midlands with a scratch side, Carpmael realized there was a desire for players from different clubs and backgrounds to play together rather than always as opponents.
Philosophy: The club was founded to spread good fellowship among rugby players and encourage a trademark style of attacking, clean, and courageous rugby. Membership is strictly by invitation, and the club has no permanent ground or clubhouse.
Motto: The team’s motto, instituted by the Right Reverend W.J. Carey, is: “Rugby Football is a game for gentlemen in all classes, but for no bad sportsman in any class”.
Anthem:
The Barbarians do not have a national anthem because they are a cosmopolitan, invitational side representing players from around the world rather than a single nation.
When the Barbarians play, they do not follow the protocol of singing a national anthem to represent the team itself. As an invitational club rather than a national representative team, they lack a formal anthem, and there is no standard process for selecting one before their matches.
Last 5 Barbarians Results:
| Date | Opponent | Score (Barbarians – Opponent) |
| 01 Nov 2025 | All Blacks XV | 19 – 33 |
| 28 Jun 2025 | South Africa XV | 7 – 54 |
| 10 May 2025 | Glasgow Academicals | 78 – 31 |
| 03 May 2025 | Durham University RFC | 64 – 33 |
| 22 Jun 2024 | Fiji | 45 – 32 |
The Barbarians have upcoming fixtures scheduled against the South Africa national team on 20 June 2026, and Wales on 27 June 2026.
