Nearly seven years on, Joe Rokocoko returns to Limerick, hoping the Thomond Park faithful will have forgiven if not forgotten.

When the Barbarians come to town, there is no promised script. That is what makes this invitational team so attractive in the rugby world.

Robbie Deans has ruled himself out of the running for the Leinster head coach position. The former Australia coach had been linked with the post after it was announced last week that Matt O’Connor had agreed to leave the club by mutual consent.

Barbarians head coach Robbie Deans will go head to head with compatriot Joe Schmidt at Thomond Park on Thursday night believing his invitational side are set to face genuine World Cup contenders.

Thomond Park is set to be graced by two more world-renowned stars when the Barbarians face an Ireland XV in Limerick later this month after Wales and Lions duo Adam Jones and Alex Cuthbert were added to Robbie Deans’s invitational squad.