Regan to lead Barbarians

LONDON – England hooker Mark Regan was confirmed as captain of the Barbarians team to play South Africa at Twickenham tomorow despite being warned by his club not to play.

Bristol had given Regan the week off as they are involved in a dead rubber EDF Energy Cup match but say they want him to rest ahead of the following week’s Heineken Cup fixture and warned he would be breaking his contract if he played at Twickenham. Regan, however, is standing firm.”I was asked to captain the Barbarians and I consider it a massive honour to do that,” he said in a statement.”It’s going to be a great day for me and my family to lead out a star-studded side at Twickenham.”Regan’s England front row team mate Andrew Sheridan, who was due to play on Saturday, has been withdrawn and will play for Sale in the EDF Cup instead.Premier Rugby, the body that runs the Premiership, can prevent players taking part in the match as it falls outside a designated international weekend.Jason Robinson, retired from club and international rugby, is due to appear for the last time in his illustrious career at fullback but will need to prove his fitness after fighting to recover from the shoulder injury that forced him off during the second half of the World Cup final.The Barbarians, coached by Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan, have an impressive line-up that includes five All Blacks and Australia’s Matt Giteau at flyhalf.South Africa, who began their reign as world champions with a convincing 34-12 victory over Wales in Cardiff last Saturday, have delayed naming their team until they link up again with coach Jake White, who will be taking charge for the final time.Meanwhile, South Africa named their team to play the Barbarians as follows: (15-1): Ruan Pienaar; Akona Ndungane, Jaque Fourie, Francois Steyn, Bryan Habana; Andre Pretorius, Ricky Januarie; Ryan Kankowski, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger; Johan Ackerman, Johann Muller (capt); Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, CJ van der Linde Replacements: Tiaan Liebenberg, Heinke van der Merwe, Albert van den Berg, Barend Pieterse, Wynand Olivier, Wayne Julies, Conrad Jantjes.Nampa-AFP and ReutersRegan, however, is standing firm.”I was asked to captain the Barbarians and I consider it a massive honour to do that,” he said in a statement.”It’s going to be a great day for me and my family to lead out a star-studded side at Twickenham.”Regan’s England front row team mate Andrew Sheridan, who was due to play on Saturday, has been withdrawn and will play for Sale in the EDF Cup instead.Premier Rugby, the body that runs the Premiership, can prevent players taking part in the match as it falls outside a designated international weekend.Jason Robinson, retired from club and international rugby, is due to appear for the last time in his illustrious career at fullback but will need to prove his fitness after fighting to recover from the shoulder injury that forced him off during the second half of the World Cup final.The Barbarians, coached by Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan, have an impressive line-up that includes five All Blacks and Australia’s Matt Giteau at flyhalf.South Africa, who began their reign as world champions with a convincing 34-12 victory over Wales in Cardiff last Saturday, have delayed naming their team until they link up again with coach Jake White, who will be taking charge for the final time.Meanwhile, South Africa named their team to play the Barbarians as follows: (15-1): Ruan Pienaar; Akona Ndungane, Jaque Fourie, Francois Steyn, Bryan Habana; Andre Pretorius, Ricky Januarie; Ryan Kankowski, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger; Johan Ackerman, Johann Muller (capt); Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, CJ van der Linde Replacements: Tiaan Liebenberg, Heinke van der Merwe, Albert van den Berg, Barend Pieterse, Wynand Olivier, Wayne Julies, Conrad Jantjes.Nampa-AFP and Reuters