Peter O’Mahony to captain Barbarians against South Africa in final match this Saturday

The fixture marks the first time the Barbarians will face the Springboks on South African soil, and it serves as a fitting farewell for two of rugby’s most respected leaders.

O’Mahony is joined by fellow Irish great Cian Healy, who also bows out of the game this weekend. The long-time Leinster prop will start at loosehead in a powerful Barbarians front row alongside France’s Camille Chat and Samoa’s Paul Alo-Emile. In the second row, Stormers lock Ruben van Heerden will square up against familiar faces in green and gold, partnered by England’s David Ribbans.

The back row is a statement of intent, with O’Mahony linking up with former All Black captain Sam Cane and the explosive kiwi bruiser Shannon Frizell, promising both experience and physicality in abundance.

Behind the pack, the Barbarians’ backline is loaded with flair; Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Josh Jacomb form the half-back pairing, while the midfield boasts power and precision through Peter Umaga-Jensen and Leicester Fainga’anuku. Out wide, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkins, Mark Telea, and Melvyn Jaminet complete a back three brimming with speed and attacking threat.

The bench is equally stacked, offering serious depth. Ricky Ricatelli, Hassane Kolingar, and Will Collier bring muscle to the front row replacements, while Josh Beehre, Hoskins Sototu, and Lachlan Boshier offer back-row firepower. Covering the backs are Santiago Arata, Uruguay’s electric scrum-half, and England’s versatile Joe Marchant.

Barbarians head coach Robbie Deans called the match a special occasion for both the club and South African fans. “This is the first time a South African crowd will get to see the Barbarians face the Springboks on home soil, and it’s going to be a great fixture,” said Deans. “The boys have come in and bonded really well. Those connections will be important against the World Champions.”

Kick-off is set for 17:10 local time on Saturday, June 28th, at Cape Town’s iconic stadium, with tickets available through Ticketmaster SA. All eyes will be on O’Mahony as he leads the Baa-Baas one final time, closing out a storied career against the toughest opponents in world rugby, a fitting exit for one of the game’s great warriors.

Absolutely — here’s the final version of the Barbarians squad list, restyled to match your preferred format: