Barbarians confirm a strong 27-man squad

Barbarians head coach Vern Cotter will have a group of players with 1,018 international appearances between them at his disposal as the Barbarians face England and Ulster.

The headline additions to the famous invitation side include prop WP Nel , fly half Ian Madigan, hooker Schalk Brits, and wings Horacio Agulla and Waisea Nyacalevu.

Also added to a stellar back division are Bath pair Kahn Fotuali’i and Robbie Freuan, Castres duo Rory Kockott and David Smith, and Montpellier’s Timosi Nagusa and Frans Steyn.

Joining the forward line-up are props Ben Franks, Mike Ross, and Mikheil Nariashvili, hooker Richard Hibbard and uncapped Toulouse No.8 Gillian Galan.

The New Zealand duo of Bundee Aki and Charles Piutau have both withdrawn from the squad with injury concerns.

Barbarians squad: Backs: Horacio Agulla (Castres & Argentina), Adam Ashley-Cooper (Bordeaux Begles & Australia), Yann David (Toulouse and France), Kahn Fotuali’i (Bath Rugby & Samoa), Robbie Freuan (Bath Rugby), Rory Kockott (Castres & France), Ian Madigan (Bordeaux Begles & Ireland), Timoci Nagusa (Montpellier & Fiji), Waisea Nayacalavu (Stade Francais & Fiji), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster & South Africa), David Smith (Castres), Frans Steyn (Montpellier & South Africa).

Forwards: Patricio Albacete (Toulouse & Argentina), Steffon Armitage (Pau & England), Schalk Brits (Saracens & South Africa), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse & France), Corey Flynn (Star RFC & New Zealand), Ben Franks (London Irish & New Zealand), Gillian Galan (Toulouse), Richard Hibbard (Gloucester & Wales), Facundo Isa (Lyon & Argentina), Census Johnston (Toulouse & Samoa), Mikheil Nariashvili (Montpellier & Georgia), WP Nel (Edinburgh & Scotland), Mike Ross (Leinster & Ireland), Joe Tekori (Toulouse & Samoa), Jeremy Thrush (Gloucester & New Zealand).