Gregan joins Jake White's army
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:01
Australian legend George Gregan is the latest player to be confirmed for the Barbarians' squad which will take on the Wallabies in the London Olympic Centenary Match on 3rd December.
The former Wallaby captain is still the world's most capped player with 117 tests and will join Springbok scrum-half Fourie du Preez in an enviable embarrassment of riches vying for the number 9 shirt in the starting line-up for what will be the first-ever rugby union showpiece at the new Wembley Stadium.
The Barbarians' preparations ahead of the event received another boost with the news that Saracens' coach Eddie Jones had accepted an invitation to work alongside head coach Jake White for the match.
They will reprise their teamwork of a year ago when under White's direction they guided South Africa to Rugby World Cup glory.
On a flying visit to the UK this week White said, “The Barbarians are putting together a powerful squad of all the talents for this very special match. I have been impressed by the positive response from so many players world-wide and to have Eddie to assist me in the build-up is definitely an added bonus.”
Gregan, now with Suntory Sungoliath in Japan, is the latest superstar in a squad that already includes All Black captain Richie McCaw and his Springbok counterpart, John Smit, plus Jerry Collins, Carl Hayman and Joe Rokocoko from New Zealand, England's summer tour skipper Steve Borthwick, and South African World Cup winners Percy Montgomery, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Bakkies Botha and Schalk Burger.
Barbarian president Micky Steele-Bodger said, “We have known from the outset that this Olympic celebration match would be another landmark occasion in the club's proud history. Fittingly, we are assembling a group of players and coaches which is as strong as any squad to have represented us in recent times.”
