Former England star will make Barbarians debut against South Africa this Saturday

byTom Sansom

The Barbarians are set for a first-time meeting with the Springboks this Saturday, with an explosive contest set to kick off the Summer down in Cape Town. Barbarians head coach Robbie Deans has named a match day 23 to take on South Africa, with a notable ex-England player set for his first run out in the world famous black and white stripes.

For England centre Joe Marchant has been named among the squad-list, with the midfielder ready to add another notch upon his international rugby record. Marchant has 27 England Test caps to his name, with an eight-year career in the Premiership as a Harlequins fan favourite.

Marchant had featured in senior England training camps since 2015, yet a litany of injuries delayed his Test match debut until the 2019 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches. Marchant marked his miden cap off the bench against Wales, as a replacement for Jonathan Joseph, before he would score his first England try in a separate 2019 RWC warm-up match against Italy.

Marchant struggled to gain a consistent run within Eddie Jones' England set-up, with Steve Borthwick entrusting the centre as a regular starter. Marchant's England run took him through the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with his last appearence being an 80-minute run-out in the Bronze Final victory over Argentina. The midfielder would then sign a deal with Stade Francais for the 2023/24 season, and this transfer then ended his eligibility for the Test match stage.

Joe Marchant of Harlequins during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Semi Final Match between Saracens and Harlequins at Stone X Stadium on 11 June. Photo: Micah Crook/PPAUK

Marchant has remained in the Top 14 ever since, and has appeared 46 times for the Parisian club scoring six tries. The centre joins a star-studded Barbarians ensemble, with Ireland legends Cian Healy, Peter O'Mahony and Conor Murray named alongside former All Blacks captain Sam Cane and an array of stars from the Top 14, URC, Japan League One and Super Rugby

BARBARIANS SQUAD LIST TO FACE SOUTH AFRICA

FORWARDS:
Cian Healy (Leinster)
Will Collier (Castres)
Hassane Kolingar (Racing 92)
Paul Alo-Emile (Stade Francais)
Camille Chat (Lyon)
John Ricky Riccitelli (Auckland Blues)
David Ribbans (Toulon)
Ruben van Herdeen (Stormers)
Josh Beehre (Auckland Blues)
Hoskins Sotutu (Auckland Blues)
Peter O'Mahony (Munster)
Sam Cane (Tokyo Sungoliath)
Shannon Frizell (Toshiba)
Lachlan Boshier (Wild Knights)

BACKS:
Tawera Kerr Barlow (La Rochelle)
Santiago Arata Perrone (Castres)
Melvyn Jaminet (Toulon)
Josh Jacomb (Waikato Chiefs)
Peter Umaga-Jensen (Wellington Hurricanes)
Leicester Faingaʻanuku (Toulon)
Mark Telea (Auckland Blues)
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (Highlanders)
Joe Marchant (Stade Francais)