CONNACHT CENTRE BUNDEE Aki has been named in the Barbarians’ squad to face England and Ulster this summer.
The New Zealand native is expected to be capped by Ireland when he qualifies under World Rugby’s residency law in October of this year, but he will get a flavour of international rugby when facing the English at Twickenham at the end of May.
Vern Cotter, who will join Montpellier this summer after his stint as Scotland boss, is the head coach for the Barbarians and he has named the first six players invited to feature this summer.
The BaaBaas take on England in London on Sunday 28 May, before a visit to Kingspan Stadium to play Ulster on Thursday 1 June.
Connacht man Aki is joined in the initial list of names by Wallabies Adam Ashley-Cooper and Will Genia, Samoa’s Census Johnston, former All Black Corey Flynn and Argentina international Facundo Isa, who faces exile from playing for his country after agreeing to join Toulon on a two-year deal starting next season.
The Barbarians is all about bringing together talented players from different countries and you can see from the first group of players selected that we’ve been able to do exactly that,” said Cotter.
“We want to compete hard and to entertain in the best traditions of the club, so I’m looking forward to working towards that goal with all the players we’ll have on board when we meet up next month.”
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