Barbarians to face South Africa at Wembley next year

By Andy Charles

Image: Ma'a Nonu in action for the Barbarians against South Africa eight years ago

The Barbarians will return to Wembley Stadium in November 2016 when they face the touring South Africa team.

The Springboks will open their European tour on November 5 at the home of the England football team, hoping to provide their own fireworks against the famous composite side, who they will be meeting for the eighth time.

South Africa have already announced two further fixtures, against England at Twickenham seven days later and Wales on November 26 in Cardiff, with more games to be added to the schedule.

The Barbarians last played South Africa in 2010, running out 26-20 winners, and they will be back at Wembley for the first time since 2008 when they faced Australia in the Olympic Centenary Match.

South Africa have played at the new Wembley once, against Saracens in a midweek game, but South Africa Rugby Union chief executive Jurie Roux is excited to be going back.

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"The rivalry between the Boks and the Baabaas goes back many years and has provided many historic occasions," Roux said.

"To play them at Wembley next year for the first time will add a new chapter - this was the venue for the biggest attendance at the recent Rugby World Cup in England, when close to 90,000 packed the stadium to see Ireland take on Romania.

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"It will provide the Springboks will an ideal start to their European tour."

South Africa trail 4-3 in their matches against the Barbarians, but have lost the last two encounters and not beaten them since 2000, a game that took place in Cardiff.

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