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William Percy Carpmael loved his rugby, and
played with some distinction for Cambridge
University and the Blackheath Club. He believed
that his sport must be introduced to more and
more people, and it was his idea to organise a
side to travel far and wide in Britain, spreading
good fellowship and using the oval ball game to
promote basic human values.
In these more cynical – some might think
sophisticated – days Carpmael’s vision of
spreading a gospel encouraging courage, flair,
team spirit and passion might appear rather
naïve, if worthy. Happily the Barbarians maintain
principles of which Carpmael would certainly
approve, even if the idea he hatched in Leuchters
Restaurant has flourished into the globally-
recognised ‘brand’ which will – as usual – attract
a capacity crowd to Kingspan Stadium this
wondrous evening.
The first match the Baa-Baas played was at
Hartlepool’s Friary Field just after Christmas
in 1890, drawing a small, curious crowd of
spectators which wasn’t entirely au fait with
the intricacies of Rugby Union, then amateur
to its very core. Since then Barbarians history
has traced its path defined by great players,
spectacular matches, locations which resonate
with supporters everywhere
For those of us of a certain vintage the rugby
calendar began in September and drew its
curtains around Easter when the colourful
gang of very talented players, of all countries,
races and creed, established an ad hoc base at
Penarth’s Esplanade Hotel, to this day the club’s
spiritual home.
The fixtures against Cardiff, those at Leicester,
were stages for players to throw off any shackles
and demonstrate a range of skills and imagination
which entranced. And just as its net cast itself
wide to field sides of incredible lustre so too did
the fixture list, and international sides on tour in
the UK and Ireland would very regularly conclude
their rigorous trips with a mood-altering abandon
in contests which have been stamped on rugby’s
consciousness.
Not just the game with New Zealand and ‘that try’
from Gareth Edwards, but – and Carpmael would
so have approved – the Barbarians stepped
up to offer opposition to countries such as
Australia which, in 1948, found its coffers empty
and officially ‘strapped for cash’ to conclude its
tour and finance the trip home via Canada! The
hurriedly-arranged match attracted a big crowd,
the ‘takings’ ensuring the playing party could
return ‘down under’ in good health and on a
sound financial basis.
And the founding fathers’ ambitions for the
expansion of rugby have been exceedingly
achieved, and the devotion to a style of playing
has been joyfully embraced by all of the near-
3,000 players who’ve realised their own dream
of being a ‘Baa-Baa’! It’s impossible to browse
that celebrated list and not have great memories
revived, even the reason that rugby has become
a personal passion.
Kyle, Morgan, Bledwyn and JJ Williams, Edwards,
Gibson, Duckham, Guscott, Calder, McBride,
Morgan, the Quinnells, Ripley, Bennett, Slattery
randomly come to mind, while from other shores
Blanco, Farr-Jones, Lomu, Meads are and were
men of singular talent and character.
And here in Belfast this evening an Ulster team
which will have every incentive to demonstrate its
own individual and collective potential will tread
the same sward as modern legends such as
Patricio Albacete and Facundo Isa from Argentina
and Samoa's Joe Tekori.
New Zealand’s Corey Flynn and Jeremy Thrush
will hope to pack down together, perhaps
alongside the Samoan giant Census Johnson and
Ireland’s Mike Ross.
But quite naturally so much interest will centre on
the marvel which is Thierry Dusautoir, of Toulouse
and France, a magnificent breakaway forward
and an international captain to rank with the true
‘greats’ of the game. Dusautoir is taking leave of
rugby this week after the games with England
and Ulster and what a reception he deserves:
a supreme athlete, a ferocious competitor and
unyielding, inventive leader of men.
Truly, we will never see his like again.
Coach Vern Cotter is also moving on after being
properly rewarded for his dedicated efforts with
Scotland in bequeathing a self-confident, gifted
and passionate national side to his successor
Gregor Townsend.
It was a rather dreary Bradford evening in October 1890 that the seed which
has bloomed into the iconic Barbarians was sown, with what we would today
call a ‘mission statement’ which sustains the modern, spectacular model.
WELCOME THE BARBARIANS AT THE GATE!
ROD NAWN