Everyone has seen the highlights of the famous Baa-Baas’ game against New Zealand back in 1973, which was the year Britain joined the EEC, when Ted Heath was our Prime Minister, Jackie Stewart was Formula 1 world champion, and rugby was still 22 years away from becoming a professional sport.
That game, and in particular, that famous try, epitomises the Baa-Baas legend, but it was almost 50 years ago, and the reality is that their relevance has diminished over the years.
The mystique of the BaaBaas, of course, lives on, and players still cherish getting their shirt, but that now tends to happen towards the end of their careers – in their prime they’re too busy to fit in ‘jollies’.
The Barbarians epitomise the old Corinthian spirit, but in today’s professional rugby world, they’ve gradually become more of a side-show than the main event. Such remarks will be regarded as verging on sacrilege by some, but that’s the reality.
This autumn we’ve seen them play Fiji at Twickenham, play Brazil in Sao Paulo, and then yesterday take on Wales in the Principality Stadium.
Denne historien er fra December 01, 2019-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra December 01, 2019-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.
