Barbarians Team News: Welsh Great Prepares for Last Outing as World Champion Captains

Wednesday, 24 June 2026 at 15:28

byHarry Tovey

The Barbarians on Saturday afternoon will face Wales at Allianz Stadium, which will also be the last time George North enters the field of play.

North called time on his international career in 2024, after winning 121 caps for his country and claiming a number of Six Nations titles and two Grand Slam titles.

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However, on the weekend in Twickenham, he has been selected on the bench against Wales, following the announcement of his retirement from rugby at the end of the season.

“I thought I was finished and then this Barbarians opportunity came along,” North told the Scrum V podcast.

“It was funny having a conversation with my two boys trying to explain that daddy’s going to play rugby again.

“They were ‘that’s good’, but then I was saying it was against Wales. They were like ‘no daddy, that’s not what you do, you play for Wales’.

“I said I played for Wales, and I was lucky to do that, but now I am playing against them.

“I’m just hoping we can get a couple of small Barbarians jerseys quickly for them.”

North isn’t the only Welshman in recent memory to end their careers playing for the Barbarians, as both Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric did the same against Wales in 2023.

However, North will be the centre of attention when it comes to the match in Twickenham, but is joined by South African World Cup winners Faf de Klerk, who will captain the side and Vincent Koch.

Australia’s Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and France’s Romain Taofifenua, Jordan Joseph, Tom Spring and Yoan Tanga have all been selected alongside Welshman Elliot Dee.

The Barbarians, coached by former New Zealand boss Scott Robertson, have 19 internationals from 11 different nations in their squad.

They come into the contest against Wales following an 80-31 loss to South Africa in Gqeberha last weekend.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, boss Robertson added: “We have picked a team to really challenge Wales.

“It’s a big team, with a bit of a Top 14 core, but we also want to move the ball, play what’s on and entertain what is hopefully a big crowd.

“It’s an awesome opportunity for this talented group to show what they are all about.

“They are all here because they have a super talent and we want them to express themselves.”

Barbarians team vs Wales

Starting XV: 15 Tom Spring, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Jeremy Ward, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Virimi Vakatawa, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Faf de Klerk (C), 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 5 Romain Taofifénua, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Giorgi Kharaishvili

Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Jack Iscaro, 18 Paul Alo-Emile, 19 Yoan Tanga, 20 Jordan Joseph, 21 Santiago Arata, 22 George North, 23 Liam McConnell