Seven PWR players selected in Barbarian Women squad to face South Africa

Seven stars of women’s rugby are set to make their final international appearance for Barbarian F.C. when the world-famous invitational club take on Springbok Women on Saturday 7 September at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium.

The full squad, named below, features seven current players from Premiership Women's Rugby and will be led by former Black Fern Linda Itunu and Spain’s Patricia Garcia Lopez.

Of the 23-strong travelling squad, seven of the world’s top players will be playing their final international, and in the legendary black-and-white stripes.

Rachael Burford (England)

England and Harlequins’ Burford began her playing career at Medway before going onto play for some of English rugby’s most legendary clubs, including Richmond F.C., Saracens and Harlequins.

Her glittering career included over 80 England cap, a Rugby World Cup victory in 2014, multiple Six Nations titles and a seven-season run at Harlequins, winning the Premier 15s title with Quins in 2021.

Off the pitch, she plays a significant role in representing players’ interests as Head of Women’s Rugby for the International Players’ Association and heading up the Women’s Department of the Rugby Players’ Association.

Cerys Hale (Wales)

Wales prop Hale will bring the curtain down on an international and club career spanning more than a decade and winning 49 Welsh caps during the time.

Hale was called up to the Wales squad for the 2014 Six Nations and went onto play in three Rugby World Cups. She was also part of the Wales squad that played in the historic WXV1 tournament in New Zealand in 2023.

The pop began her rugby journey at Pontyclun RFC before going onto play for the Dragons and then PWR’s Gloucester-Hartpury, winning back-to-back titles.

She remains involved with rugby following her retirement as Dragons Women’s Pathway Manager.

Claire Molloy (Ireland)

Former Ireland captain Claire Molloy retired from international rugby after winning 74 caps for her country.

The flanker played at three Rugby World Cups, won two Six Nations including a Grand Slam in 2013 and represented Ireland in rugby sevens in the same year. She captained Ireland in both the 2013 7s Rugby World Cup and 2017 15s Rugby World Cup.

She concluded her club career playing for Bristol Bears for two seasons, having played for Cardiff Quins, Galwegians, Bristol Bears and Wasps.

Molloy also had an accomplished intern-county football career for Galway and is a qualified doctor.

Our Women’s #Baabaas squad to play South Africa 🇿🇦

Including 7️⃣ retiring giants of the game 🔥

Read more below ⬇️ #rugby pic.twitter.com/4rkXmxSTMv

— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) August 27, 2024

Emily Scott (England)

Burford’s teammate at both Harlequins and England, Scott announced her retirement earlier this year.

The 38-capped fly-half won two Premier 15s titles – one with Quins and one with Saracens.

She also played rugby sevens for Team GB at the Rio 2016 Olympics, and won bronze for England in the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Lydia Thompson (England)

Stourbridge-born wing Thompson played for England and Worcester Warriors Women, also winning a bronze medal in rugby sevens at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

On her England debut in 2012, Thompson ran in three tries against Spain in the European Cup.

She went onto be part of the England squads for the 2014 and 2017 Rugby World Cups, as well as winning a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2017.

Thompson came through the age-groups at Stourbridge before joining Worcester in 2010. She won 47 caps for England and was inducted into the Mastercard Women’s Team of the Decade in 2020.

Alycia Washington (USA)

Another Warriors Woman, USA second-row Alycia Washington also represented the USA Eagles, helping them to a fourth-place finish in the 2017 Rugby World Cup – their highest finish since 1991.

Washington, from Connecticut, won her first international cap against the Red Roses in 2015. A significant part of women’s rugby in the States for over a decade, Washington played in three Super Series against teams including France, New Zealand and Canada and went on to earn 26 caps.

A multi-talented athlete, Washington ran track and field for four years, participated in gymnastics for seven years and played two years of hockey.

As a passionate advocate of women’s rugby, Washington has formed the XV Foundation and also worked alongside World Rugby to raise the profile of the women’s game.

BARBARIAN WOMEN SQUAD TO FACE SOUTH AFRICA

Forwards:

Kathryn Buggy (Ireland) *Gloucester-Hartpury

Rochelle Clarke (England)

Ciara Cooney (Ireland)

Cerys Hale (Wales)

Laura Keates (England) *Loughborough Lightning

Joanna Kitlinski (USA)

Rownita Marston-Mulhearn (England) *Bristol Bears

Charmaine McMenamin (New Zealand)

Abi Meyrick (Wales)

Claire Molloy (Ireland)

Sera Naigama (Australia)

Alycia Washington (USA) *Sale Sharks

Backs:

Rachael Burford (England)

Kendra Cocksedge (New Zealand)

Kathryn Dane (Ireland)

Cheta Emba (USA)

Carla Hohepa (New Zealand)

Sarah Law (Scotland)

Rachel Lund (England) *Gloucester-Hartpury

Celia Quansah (England) *Leicester Tigers

Amber Reed (England) *Bristol Bears

Emily Scott (England)

Lydia Thompson (England)

Coaching staff

Head Coach: Linda Itunu (New Zealand)

Assistant Coach: Patricia Garcia Rodriguez (Spain)

Barbarian Women Director: Fiona Stockley (England)

Team Manager: Anita Velinova (Finland)