Jimmy Stonehouse to coach SA Barbarians
Experienced Absa Currie Cup coach, Jimmy Stonehouse of the Mpumalanga Pumas, has been appointed coach of the SA Barbarians teams that will take on England in two matches during next month’s Castle Incoming Tour series.
Stonehouse will be assisted by Eddie Myners (South Western Districts) and Oersond Gorgonzola (Griffons) in preparing SA Barbarians selections chosen from players representing either the northern or southern Absa Currie Cup first division teams. The team will be managed by Tony Edwards of the Barbarians club.
The southern selection will play England in Kimberley on Wednesday, June 13 (kick off 15h00) before the northern selection meets them in Potchefstroom on Tuesday, June 19 (kick off 19h10).
The squads for the matches will be confirmed early next week. The players were selected by SARU national selectors Peter Jooste and Ian McIntosh together with the Barbarians’ representatives, Hugh Bladen and Wynand Claassen.
The matches represent the revival of the famous Barbarians team in South Africa.
“The club has struggled in recent years to get fixtures, largely due to the increasing calls on players’ time,” said Jurie Roux, CEO of the South African Rugby Union. “This is one way we have identified to revive the club and to enable it to re-establish its position as a contributor to rugby in South Africa.”
Dave Kennealy, president of the South African Barbarians Rugby Football Club, said: “We’re hopeful that these matches and similar fixtures in the future will re-establish SA Barbarians as an important role player in South African rugby, enabling us to give a unique opportunity to lesser known but highly talented young rugby players.”
The SA Barbarians were founded in 1960. The club’s mission is to identify younger players who have not had significant exposure to representative rugby and, by inviting them to play for the club, give them a chance at reaching a higher level. The team last appeared in 2003.
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