Leinster legend Shane Jennings has been named as captain for the Barbarians side that will face Ireland on Thursday in Thomond Park.
Barbarian FC made their team announcement via Twitter on Tuesday afternoon, with Zane Kirchner and Jimmy Gopperth also set to line up alongside Jennings in the starting XV.
Commenting on his selection as Barbarians captain, Jennings said: “It’s an honour to lead out such an illustrious team. It’s a great highlight in my career and we’ll be determined to do the Barbarians jersey justice against Ireland.”
The match against Ireland is likely to be Jennings’ last in a phenomenal career which has seen the 33-year-old claim three Heineken Cups, three PRO12 titles and a Challenge Cup with Leinster, a Premiership title with Leicester Tigers and 13 Ireland caps.
Speaking earlier in the season about his decision to retire and his time with Leinster, Jennings said: “I’m very grateful that I’ve been part of such a great club, such a great team. It’s been good times. But thankfully I’m confident I’ve made the right decision. I’m prepared, and I’m looking forward to the next stage of my life.”
#Baabaas team v @IrishRugby 15 Kirchner 14 @acuthbert11 13 @J_Rokocoko 12 @Wynand_olivier 11 Smith 10 @jimmygopps 9 Pienaar #rugbyunited
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) May 26, 2015
#Baabaas team v @IrishRugby 1 Tejerizo 2 @Deonf 3 @adamjones3 4 Ortega 5 Mikautadze 6 @ShaneJenningsLR (C) 7 @vossie6 8 Holani #rugbyunited
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) May 26, 2015
#Baabaas bench – 16 @Dave_Ward2 17 Taumoepeau 18 @mati_diaz93 19 Whitelock 20 G Smith 21 @tcubelli89 22 Pisi 23 @1GioAplon #rugbyunited
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) May 26, 2015
#rugby selfie @J_Rokocoko @tcubelli89 @jimmygopps @kiakaha15 @vossie6 @ShaneJenningsLR #rugbyunited #Baabaas pic.twitter.com/aoXpXOpq2q
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) May 26, 2015
Barbarians (v Ireland)
15 Zane Kirchner (Leinster & South Africa) 29
14 Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues & Wales) 32
13 Joe Rokocoko (Bayonne & New Zealand) 68
12 Wynand Olivier (Montpellier & South Africa) 38
11 David Smith (Toulon)
10 Jimmy Gopperth (Leinster)
9 Ruan Pienaar (Ulster & South Africa) 80
1 Roberto Tejerizo (Tucuman & Argentina) 4
2 Deon Fourie (Lyon)
3 Adam Jones (Cardiff Blues & Wales) 95
4 Rodrigo Capo Ortega (Castres & Uruguay) 38
5 Konstantin Mikautadze (Toulon & Georgia) 31
6 Shane Jennings (Leinster & Ireland) 13 CAPTAIN
7 Gerhard Vosloo (Toulon)
8 Ryu Koliniasi Holani (Panasonic Wild Knights & Japan) 38
Replacements:
16 David Ward (Harlequins)
17 Saimone Taumoepeau (Castres & New Zealand) 3
18 Matias Diaz (Pampas & Argentina) 8
19 George Whitelock (Panasonic Wild Knights & New Zealand) 1
20 George Smith (Lyon & Australia) 111
21 Tomas Cubelli (Belgrano Ath & Argentina) 34
22 Tusi Pisi (Suntory Sungoliath & Samoa) 20
23 Gio Aplon (Grenoble & South Africa) 17
