The touring England squad will play two midweek matches against an Australian Barbarians side boasting established internationals and emerging Test contenders during their much-anticipated visit in June.
Adding to a schedule headlined by their Cook Cup showdowns with the Qantas Wallabies on 12 June in Perth and 19 June in Sydney, England will also play the Australian Barbarians on the Tuesday before each Test as part of the Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series.
The Australian Barbarians will take on the 2003 Rugby World Cup champions and 2007 Rugby World Cup runners-up at ME Bank Stadium in Perth, home of the Western Force, on 8 June.
The match will be the first the Australian Barbarians have played against a visiting international side since downing Scotland 39-34 in Penrith in 1998.
The second game against England will be staged at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford on 15 June.
Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has welcomed the addition of the two Australian Barbarians fixtures to the England tour schedule.
“These games provide massive benefit for both the Qantas Wallabies program and Australian Rugby as a whole,” Deans said.
“The midweek matches we played on our Spring Tour last year were a great example of the benefits the additional international exposure provides.
“Quade Cooper played his way into our side for the Test against England the following weekend when we played Gloucester.
“Kurtley Beale also excelled that night, and wound up playing his first Test later in the trip.
“Luke Morahan then made his debut for the Wallabies at Cardiff, and has subsequently kicked on this year with the Queensland Reds in the Investec Bank Super 14.”
Deans says the Australian Barbarians will field strong line-ups, based around form performers from the Investec Bank Super 14.
The Baabaas will also have a significant Wallabies component within their combination.
“There will be players from the Qantas Wallabies squad involved in both matches,” Deans said.
While the average age in the Wallabies squad has lowered significantly on Deans’ watch, the Barbarians matches against England will allow Australians to glimpse even more future stars.
“Not only will potential Test places be on the line in these games, they are also invaluable opportunities for us to gauge players as part of the bigger picture, looking ahead to next year’s Rugby World Cup,” he said
“I’d imagine England coach Martin Johnson is taking a similar view.”
Australian Barbarians president Charles Blunt said recognition for his organisation was acknowledgment of the traditions and values the Club represents.
“It’s fantastic that the Australian Barbarians have their name up there again on the domestic Rugby calendar, and in a very significant way with the opportunity of these two matches against England,” he said.
“We’re excited about this ARU initiative and hope that it may be an enduring venture into the future.
“The Barbarians have a wonderful history and we have been trying to raise our profile in recent times.
“The visit by the British Barbarians to play the Wallabies in Sydney last year certainly helped in terms of awareness of the Barbarians name and these two games in June will further add to that level of presence within Australian Rugby.”
The two matches in Perth will be the first England has played in the city since starting their triumphant 2003 Rugby World Cup campaign there seven years ago.
The tour will also mark the return of Jonny Wilkinson to Australia, pending selection, for the first time since his memorable role in the securing of the William Webb Ellis Cup.
Tickets for the two midweek matches have been set at $30 for reserved seating and $15 for general admission, with family passes of four available at $60 and $30 respectively.
Both matches will go on sale to the general public on 19 May.
The England squad, after four matches in Australia, will conclude their Southern Hemisphere tour with a game against the New Zealand Maori in Napier on 23 June.
ENGLAND TOUR ITINERARY
Tues, 8 June
v Australian Barbarians at ME Stadium, Perth
Sat, 12 June
v QANTAS WALLABIES at Subiaco Oval, Perth
Tues, 15 June
v Australian Barbarians at Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Sat, 19 June
v QANTAS WALLABIES at ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Wed, 23 June
v New Zealand Maori at Napier (NZ)
MAJOR MATCHES INVOLVING AUSTRALIAN BARBARIANS SINCE RUGBY WENT PROFESSIONAL IN 1996
1997 Australian Barbarians 26 France 25
1998 Australian Barbarians 39 Scotland 34
1999 Australian Barbarians 33 New Zealand “A” 24
1999 New Zealand “A” 40 Australian Barbarians 17
2001 Fijian Barbarians 56 Australian Barbarians 38
