Sergio Parisse: Will lock horns with the Lions in Hong Kong.
Italian captain Sergio Parisse will be in the Barbarians side to face the British and Irish Lions in Hong Kong on 1 June. The Lions are playing a three-match series in Australia this summer but they will warm up by playing their first ever match in Hong Kong, where they will face the Barbarians for the second time in their history. And the Baa-Baas have now named their first five world class recruits for the high profile fixture in the shape of Parisse, Martin Castrogiovanni, Imanol Harinordoquy, Kahn Fotuali'I and Jaque Fourie. Parisse has been capped 93 times by Italy and his compatriot, Leicester prop Castrogiovanni, has played 94 times for the Azzurri. ExperiencedThe experienced Harinordoquy is a France No 8 and has played for three Grand Slam winning teams on his way to accumulating 77 caps. The Lions will also face Samoan scrum-half Kahn Fotuali'i, who will join Northampton from Ospreys next season and is one of the hottest properties in world rugby at present. And South African centre Jaque Fourie, who has been capped 69 times and played for the 2007 World Cup winning team, will also be in the Barbarians line-up. The Barbarians will be coached by Wasps director of rugby Dai Young and will first take on England at Twickenham on 26 May before heading to Hong Kong. Team manager Derek Quinnell said: "It is a great honour to play the Lions, as well as England, and we are very conscious of the need to invite the strongest possible squad, to do justice to two great fixtures. "As the weeks go by and national squads are selected, and domestic cup and league competitions reach their final stages, we are monitoring who will be available to us. "We will then decide on the best balance of our squad in all positions and will make further announcements in due course." Source : http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/16057/8543660/Sergio-Parisse-will-be-among-the-Barbarians-that-will-face-the-British-and-Irish-Lions
The Lions are playing a three-match series in Australia this summer but they will warm up by playing their first ever match in Hong Kong, where they will face the Barbarians for the second time in their history.
And the Baa-Baas have now named their first five world class recruits for the high profile fixture in the shape of Parisse, Martin Castrogiovanni, Imanol Harinordoquy, Kahn Fotuali'I and Jaque Fourie.
Parisse has been capped 93 times by Italy and his compatriot, Leicester prop Castrogiovanni, has played 94 times for the Azzurri.
The experienced Harinordoquy is a France No 8 and has played for three Grand Slam winning teams on his way to accumulating 77 caps.
The Lions will also face Samoan scrum-half Kahn Fotuali'i, who will join Northampton from Ospreys next season and is one of the hottest properties in world rugby at present.
And South African centre Jaque Fourie, who has been capped 69 times and played for the 2007 World Cup winning team, will also be in the Barbarians line-up.
The Barbarians will be coached by Wasps director of rugby Dai Young and will first take on England at Twickenham on 26 May before heading to Hong Kong.
Team manager Derek Quinnell said: "It is a great honour to play the Lions, as well as England, and we are very conscious of the need to invite the strongest possible squad, to do justice to two great fixtures.
"As the weeks go by and national squads are selected, and domestic cup and league competitions reach their final stages, we are monitoring who will be available to us.
"We will then decide on the best balance of our squad in all positions and will make further announcements in due course." Source : http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/16057/8543660/Sergio-Parisse-will-be-among-the-Barbarians-that-will-face-the-British-and-Irish-Lions
