FOUR of the international game’s most substantial and popular figures have been added to the Barbarians’ Roll of Honour.
Schalk Brits, Joe Rokocoko, George Smith and Doddie Weir are the latest quartet to join the likes of Sir Gareth Edwards, Jonah Lomu and David Campese in the list of the club’s greatest players.
The Roll of Honour now lists 41 key figures in the history of the famous invitation club. The decision to recognise these players on www.barbarianfc.co.uk is made by the club’s committee.
Barbarian FC Chairman John Spencer said: “Each year we set out to recognise significant contributions made by our players and Schalk Brits, George Smith, Joe Rokocoko and Doddie Weir all deserve that acclaim.
“These four players have 251 international caps between them in different areas of the field, often pushing the boundaries of the way rugby can be played.
“They’re also outstanding individuals who bring friendship, fun and energy to a team, something that is the essence of what it means to play for the Barbarians.
“We’re particularly delighted to recognise Doddie Weir, a marvellous player and teammate who has met the challenge of Motor Neurone Disease by bravely and selflessly raising awareness and funding for research into the condition.”
The 41 players listed on the Barbarians Roll of Honour are as follows: Phil Bennett, Bill Beaumont, Schalk Brits, Zinzan Brooke, Mike Burton, David Campese, WP Carpmael, Jerry Collins, Emile de Lissa, Gerald Davies, David Duckham, Gareth Edwards, Mike Gibson, HL Glyn-Hughes, Jerry Guscott, Bryan Habana, David Humphreys, Andy Irvine, John Jeffrey, Jack Kyle, Jason Leonard, Jonah Lomu, Michael Lynagh, Cliff Morgan, Tony O’Reilly, Philip Orr, Francois Pienaar, John Pullin, Derek Quinnell, Andy Ripley, Joe Rokocoko, Budge Rogers, Philippe Sella, Fergus Slattery, George Smith, John Spencer, Micky Steele-Bodger, Herbert Waddell, Doddie Weir, RH Williams, Geoff Windsor-Lewis.
Schalk Brits
The effervescent Schalk Brits is one of the most popular players to wear the Barbarians shirt with teammates and supporters alike. The hooker’s ability to contribute all over the field has earned him 11 caps for South Africa and at the age of 37 he was still pushing for a place in the 2019 World Cup. After a spell with the Stormers he moved to Saracens where for 10 years he was one of the architects of the club’s rise to the top of European rugby, winning four Premiership titles and two European Cups. He made eight appearances for the Barbarians, starting with the win over South Africa in 2007 and most recently in the victory against Argentina in 2018.
Joe Rokocoko
The great Fiji-born wing Joe Rokocoko was a devastating performer for New Zealand, scoring 46 tries in his 68 Test appearances between 2003-11. The tally included three Test hat-tricks before he brought down the curtain on his career with the All Blacks and the Blues in Auckland to move to France in 2011. The tries kept on coming in four years with Bayonne and since 2015 with Racing Metro 92. He has made eight appearances for the Barbarians with a debut victory against newly-crowned World Cup winners South Africa in 2007 and wins against New Zealand and England. His last tour in 2015 saw the Barbarians beat Ireland 22-21 at Thomond Park.
George Smith
George Smith is arguably the greatest Australia player of the professional era who continues to set standards for his teammates even at the age of 38. The flanker made 111 appearances for the Wallabies between 2000 and 2013 winning every honour the game has to offer in the Southern Hemisphere. He captured Super Rugby titles with the Brumbies, was the Super Rugby Player of the Year three times and the first man to win two John Eales Medals. In the back row he set supreme breakdown skills alongside the ability to run and handle like a three-quarter and brought his talents to bear in some of the Barbarians’ best recent performances. Smith made six appearances for the club between 2009 and 2015 beginning with a historic win over New Zealand at Twickenham. He also featured in victories against England, Wales and Ireland.
Doddie Weir
A mainstay of Scotland’s forward pack in the 1990s, Doddie Weir won 61 caps and played for Stewarts Melville, Newcastle Falcons, Melrose and the Borders. He featured for the Barbarians six times, making his debut against Newport in 1992 and captaining the club on his final appearance, a try-scoring one, against the Combined Services in 2002. The big-hearted lock has always been a popular character and accomplished after dinner speaker. In June 2017 Doddie revealed he was suffering from Motor Neurone Disease. This led to the launch of My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and in its first year, the charity committed £1 million to research into funding a cure for MND and to help fellow sufferers.
