Barbarians to face Ireland

THE Barbarians have confirmed they will play Ireland in May — at Gloucester.

The game is part of a three-match Baa-baas tour which also sees them tackling Belgium in Brussels three days earlier and England at Twickenham on June 1.

The Ireland fixture takes place on Tuesday, May 27 at Kingsholm.

Said Barbarians president Micky Steele-Bodger: “This is a new departure for us, but a very interesting one.

“Ireland were keen to add a fixture in Europe to their own summer tour before travelling on to New Zealand and Australia.

“With Lansdowne Road and Thomond Park still under redevelopment, we are playing at one of the traditional hotbeds of rugby union in the west of England.”

The Barbarians have played Ireland on two previous occasions in 1996 and 2000, and they will be defending an unbeaten record against them.