O’Callaghan to take on England with Baa-Baas

Ireland lock Donncha O’Callaghan is one of four players added to the Barbarians’ 24-man squad to face England on June 1.

He joins Ulster’s Roger Wilson to complete the Irish representation on a squad that includes France fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc, South Africa second row Juandre Kruger and Argentina full-back Juan Martin Hernandez.

Nine nations are represented, with New Zealand boasting six players in the squad, while 19 men are set to wear the famous black and white hooped shirt for the first time in an experienced group that boasts a combined 730 international caps.

Meanwhile, Connacht’s Dan McFarland has named his Emerging Talent squad for the IRB Nations Cup which includes Robbie Diack, Rob Herring, Jack McGrath, Marty Moore, Jordi Murphy and Rhys Ruddock.

Players from last year’s Emerging Ireland squad who have subsequently been capped for Ireland include Dave Kearney, Jack McGrath, Marty Moore and Jordi Murphy and six from last year’s Emerging Ireland squad will travel with the seniors to Argentina.

Elsewhere, Glasgow assistant coach Matt Taylor insists sentiment will not come into Gregor Townsend’s mind as he decides whether to pick any of his departing players for the RaboDirect Pro12 final. The Warriors will become the first Scottish team to take part in a Pro12 final when they clash with Leinster at the RDS on Saturday.

But it will also be the final chance for prop Moray Low, scrum-half Chris Cusiter and stand-off Ruaridh Jackson to pull on the club’s jersey after agreeing summer moves to Exeter, Sale and Wasps respectively.

British and Irish Lion Stuart Hogg could also play his last game for Glasgow after he was linked with a move to Ulster. But Taylor insists it is only form and tactics that will sway Townsend as he prepares to name his starting 15.

He said: “Sentiment does not come into it. You just have to pick the best players.”

BARBARIANS squad: J Cowan (Gloucester & New Zealand), T Cubelli (Belgrano & Argentina), H Gear (Toulouse & New Zealand), JM Hernandez (Racing Metro & Argentina), B James (Clermont), J O’Connor (London Irish & Australia), R Ranger (Montpellier & New Zealand), J Rokocoko (Bayonne & New Zealand), B Stanley (Clermont & New Zealand), F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier & France), J Brugnaut (Racing Metro & France), S Ferreira (Toulouse), Ma Gorgodze (Montpellier & Georgia), A Hore (Highlanders & New Zealand), J Kruger (Racing Metro & South Africa), A Lapandry (Clermont & France), JM Leguizamon (Lyon & Argentina), N Lobo (Montpellier & Argentina), D O’Callaghan (Munster & Ireland), T Paulo (Clermont & Samoa), S Taumalolo (Perpignan & Tonga), J Tekori (Toulouse & Samoa), R Wilson (Ulster & Ireland), D Zirakashvili (Clermont & Georgia).

EMERGING IRELAND squad: N Annett (Ulster), R Ah You (Connacht), M Bent (Leinster), C Black (Ulster), P Butler (Munster), B Byrne (Leinster), R Copeland (Cardiff Blues), S Dougall (Munster), D Foley (Munster), M Kearney (Connacht), M McCarthy (Leinster, capt), T O’Donnell (Munster), D Ryan (Leinster), J Ryan (Munster), J Tracy (Leinster), M Allen (Ulster), A Conway (Leinster), C Gilroy (Ulster), E Griffin (Connacht), JJ Hanrahan (Munster), I Keatley (Munster), B Macken (Leinster), P Marshall (Ulster), L McGrath (Leinster), J Murphy (Munster), N Reid (Leinster).