Vermeulen and Matera join Jones in Barbarians side

Vermeulen and Matera join Jones in Barbarians side

South African World Cup winner Duane Vermeulen and Argentine back row star Pablo Matera will be hot footing it from France to join up with the Barbarians squad being assembled to face Wales at Principality Stadium on Saturday, 4 November.

Vermeulen is one of the giants of the forward game in world rugby. He has played in South Africa, Japan, France and Ireland and currently boasts 73 caps.

A ball carrying No 8 with thunderous power, he has already played at Principality Stadium four times with the Springboks and has a 50% record against Wales. His overall record against his Cardiff hosts this November is better, with six wins from eight games.

Matera is another world class back row man who has plied his trade across the globe. As well as playing Super Rugby with the Jaguares, and winning 93 caps for the Pumas, he has appeared for the Crusaders, Leicester Tigers, Stade Francais Paris and Honda Heat in Japan.

Vermeulen and Matera will be joined by another legendary back row man at the home of Welsh rugby in the 125-times capped Australian player Michael Hooper.


He missed out on the World Cup through injury but played in the 2015-Final defeat to New Zealand at Twickenham.

Hooper holds the record for leading his country the most times, 69, and has won six of his seven games against Wales in Cardiff.


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