A trio of Saracens are the latest names to be announced for Barbarian F.C. for the forthcoming Quilter Cup against England on Sunday 25 October.
Jackson Wray and Manu Vunipola will be joined by Saracens legend Richard Wigglesworth, with the trio chalking up a collective appearance figure of over 500 between them.
Wigglesworth will be returning to HQ after 250 appearances for his club and 33 for England.
The versatile back said: “This feels such a fitting way to bring this season to a close. It will be a real honour to run out in the Black and White against Eddie’s England side. 2019/20 has been a strange and challenging time for us as players, but capping it off by becoming a Barbarian is something I will look back on with great pride.”
Hugely influential at scrum-half through Saracen’s most successful period, Wigglesworth won nine trophies across the domestic and European game. His made his England debut against France in the 2008 RBS Six Nations, scoring a 79th-minute try to help England to a 24-13 win in Paris. After playing his 250th and final match for Saracens, he has brough to a close a decade at the North London club, becoming the Premiership’s all-time appearance holder.
Saracens teammates Jackson Wray and Manu Vunipola will run out alongside Wigglesworth for the England match-up.
Wray, a stalwart back-rower, recently penned a new three-year deal to stay with Saracens as they look to their Championship campaign, the start date of which is yet to be confirmed.
The trio join Vern Cotter’s squad alongside Chris Robshaw, with more players to be announced later this week.
The Quilter Cup takes place on Sunday 25 October 2020 and will be played behind closed doors at Twickenham Stadium. Watch live on Sky as England take on the mighty Barbarians in the first international game back at Twickenham since the suspension of the Guinness Six Nations in March.
UPDATED | The full list of who's leaving Saracens and where they're going…
CONFIRMED SARACENS LEAVERS
Joe Gray (Harlequins)
Joe Gray of Saracens celebrates after winning with Brad Barritt
Liam Williams (Scarlets)
The blockbusting counter-attacker was due to rejoin the Welsh region at the end of the season but that has been brought forward.
Matt Gallagher (Munster)
The Irish-qualified full-back, 23, joined Munster in July h having had his first taste of Thomond Park in a Champions Cup pool defeat to Johan van Graan’s side on December 7.
Ben Earl (Bristol Bears - loan)
Jack Singleton (Gloucester Rugby - loan)
Max Malins (Bristol Bears - loan)
Will Skelton (La Rochelle)
Skelton helped Sarries to a domestic and European double in 2018 when he was also named players’ player of the year. Following his initial short-term move in December 2016, he made the switch to North London permanent ahead of the following season.
Titi Lamositele (Montpellier)
Nick Isiekwe (Northampton Saints - loan)
Departing on loan after signing a new deal with Sarries, Isiekwe arrived after making over 50 Premiership appearances as well as two Premiership and one Champions Cup winners medals.
Richard Wigglesworth (released)
Ben Spencer (Bath)
The England scrum-half is leaving relegated Saracens after almost a decade of service and has signed a three-year deal at the Recreation Ground.
Nick Tompkins (Dragons - loan)
The 25-year-old Wales international revealed he held talks with all four Welsh regions but chose to join Dragons on a season-long loan as they were the most "exciting" option.
Brad Barritt (retired)
Barritt has quite simply played an incredible part in the club’s journey over the past 12 years. A cornerstone of the Saracens defence for so long, the longevity and consistency of his performances – all 257 of them so far – can only be admired.
Rhys Carre (Cardiff Blues)
The 22-year-old arrived in north London after appearing at the Rugby World Cup in Japan and made his Sarries debut in the Champions Cup away to Racing 92. However, the prop returned to Wales as he looks to push for further international honours.
Alex Goode (NEC Green Rockets)
The fullback has signed a new contract with Saracens which will see the fullback continue at Allianz Park until 2023. The deal means the 32-year-old will spend almost 20 years with the club, whose academy side he joined before going on to appear for the first team in 2008. One jersey he will be wearing at the end of the current campaign is that of Japan’s NEC Green Rockets, who he has been loaned to until the end of May.
Tobias Munday (released)
Viliami Hakalo (retired)
Alex Lozowski (Montpellier - loan)
Juan Figallo (released)
George Kruis (Panasonic Wild Knights)
The England lock will end his 11-year association with Saracens in November and move to Japan after signing for Panasonic Wild Knights. Following Sarries relegation, Kruis decided it was the right time to make a move he had been mulling over for two years.
