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Ashton splashes down at full back against England

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Chris Ashton starts at full back for the Barbarians when he lines up against England for the first time in Sunday’s Quilter Cup Match at Twickenham.

The Toulon wing – who has scored 19 tries in 39 Test appearances – is part of a stellar back line featuring his Fijian Stade Mayol teammates Josua Tuisova and Semi Radradra, and Scotland’s Calcutta Cup winner Finn Russell.

The famous invitation club’s all-star back row consists of captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (Argentina), World Cup winner Victor Vito (New Zealand) and Wales’s British & Irish Lions flanker Justin Tipuric.

Chris Ashton

Chris Ashton faces England in the Quilter Cup at Twickenham

The Barbarians have made a late change because of suspension to lock Flip van der Merwe (Clermont & South Africa). 

Joe Tekori (Toulouse & Samoa) – a try-scorer in this fixture last season – has joined the squad and will be on the replacements bench.

“It’s an exciting challenge to bring together a side in five days but everything we’ve done has been about improving our chances of winning this game,” said Head Coach Pat Lam.

“We have very high-quality individuals – and they’ve worked hard and risen to the challenge of coming together as a team, which is what we’ll need to compete with a top class international side.”

For tickets to the Quilter Cup go to www.englandrugby.com/tickets

BARBARIANS TEAM

15 Chris Ashton (Toulon & England)
14 Josua Tuisova (Toulon & Fiji)
13 Semi Radradra (Toulon)
12 Josh Matavesi (Newcastle Falcons & Fiji)
11 Niyi Adeolokun (Connacht & Ireland)
10 Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors & Scotland)
9 Rhodri Williams (Bristol & Wales)
1 Denis Buckley (Connacht)
2 Benjamin Kayser (Clermont & France)
3 John Afoa (Gloucester & New Zealand)
4 Ultan Dillane (Connacht & Ireland)
5 Siteleki Timani (Clermont & Australia)
6 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (Toulon & Argentina, Captain)
7 Justin Tipuric (Ospreys & Wales)
8 Victor Vito (La Rochelle & New Zealand)

Replacements

16 Tatafu Polota-Nau (Leicester & Australia)
17 Loni Uhila (Clermont)
18 Ramiro Herrera (Stade Francais & Argentina)
19 Joe Tekori (Toulouse & Samoa)
20 Nili Latu (Newcastle Falcons & Tonga)
21 Greig Laidlaw (Clermont & Scotland)
22 Luke McAlister (Toulon & New Zealand)
23 Malakai Fekitoa (Toulon & New Zealand)