//]]>

Barbarians head for Brazil

Shirt Hero 670.jpg
The Barbarians have confirmed they will travel to South America and take on Brazil for the first time as part of their 2019 autumn tour.

The world famous invitation side will take on the Tupis at the Estadio do Morumbi home of Sao Paulo FC on Wednesday, November 20.

The game is part of a programme that will see the Baa-baas tackle Fiji at Twickenham on November 16 as well as a men’s and women’s double header against Wales at the Principality Stadium on November 30.

Brazil will be the 24th international team the Barbarians have faced and are a fast-developing rugby nation who have beaten the USA and Canada in recent seasons to break into the top 30 in the world rankings.

"We’re delighted to be able to accept the invitation to travel to Brazil, who are one of the most dynamic emerging sides in the world right now,” said Barbarian FC Chairman John Spencer.

“They’ve shown they have the strength and skill to surprise anyone and we will travel to Sao Paulo with top class international players committed to playing with the spirit of entertainment and enjoyment for which the club is famous.

“To be involved in four men’s and women’s matches against three nations in two different continents makes our November programme a very exciting one that will showcase all the Barbarian FC stands for.”

The Barbarians’ opponents since the turn of the century have also included Germany, Portugal, Georgia, Tunisia, Spain, Belgium, Fiji, Samoa, the Czech Republic and Tonga.

The club’s role in the development of rugby has been praised by World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont.

“Having played many times for the Barbarians – even captaining the club on a few occasions – I have seen first-hand the excellent work they do to promote rugby around the world,” said Beaumont when he Baa-baas took on Tonga in 2017.

"The club’s ethos of good sportsmanship, inclusivity and diversity fits perfectly with rugby’s character-building values and they have shown that it is possible to forge a modern approach to the game while still holding on to the best traditions of times past.”