Nickname(s) | Baa-Baas |
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Coach(es) |
Robbie Deans Will Greenwood (November 2016) |
Most appearances | Tony O'Reilly (30) |
Top scorer | Tony O'Reilly (38 tries) |
First match | |
Hartlepool Rovers 4–9 Barbarians (27 December 1890) |
|
Largest win | |
Belgium 10–84 Barbarians (24 May 2008) |
|
Largest defeat | |
England XV 73–12 Barbarians (31 May 2015) |
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Official website | |
www |
The Barbarian Football Club, a rugby union team usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational team based in Britain. The Barbarians play in traditional black and white hoops, though players retain the socks from their "home" club strip.
Membership is by invitation and the only qualification considered when issuing an invitation is the standard of a player's skills, secondly he should behave himself both on and off the field. Being asked to become a Barbarian is an honour and isn't restricted to British or Irish players. Consequently, players from 27 other countries have worn Barbarian colours. Traditionally at least one uncapped player is selected for each match.
The Barbarians traditionally played six annual encounters, Penarth, Cardiff, Swansea and Newport during their Easter Tour; a game with Leicester traditionally on 27 December and the Mobbs Memorial Match against East Midlands in the spring. In 1948, the Barbarians were invited to face Australia as part of that team's tour of Britain, Ireland and France. Although initially designed as a fund raiser towards the end of the tour, the encounter became a popular fixture for most touring nations to Britain, and a Barbarian tradition.
On 29 May 2011, during halftime of the Barbarians' match against England at Twickenham, the Barbarians and their founder William Percy Carpmael were honoured for their unique contributions to the sport with induction to the IRB Hall of Fame.
Worldwide, many invitational clubs are based on the Barbarian Football Club, in particular the Barbarian Rugby Club, also known as the French Barbarians, and others, in rugby or sometimes other sports, noted at .