Richard Cockerill says the rugby world should "cherish and support" the Barbarians as they prepare for an historic fixture against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.
The famous black-and-white hooped shirts of the Barbarians come to Tigers on the evening of Tuesday, November 4 as part of their 125th anniversary celebrations.
Tigers and the Barbarians met annually at Welford Road each Christmas for 90 years up to 1998 and the invitational club return with a squad drawn from around the world this November.
Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill experienced playing both for and against the Baa-baas and remains a huge fan of the invitational club.
“I was brought up at Leicester on the Barbarians game being the biggest game of the season,” Cockerill says.
“To see your name on the teamsheet on the wall to face the Baa-baas was massive. I did that in my first year in 1992 when it was the biggest thing in my career at that point.
“The concept of the Barbarians is fantastic and it has kept that aura about it. It is something everyone in the game should cherish and support.
“People want to play at Welford Road too, it has that kind of name in rugby.
“I’m sure our game will be a great spectacle and a great contest at Welford Road.”
The Barbarians have so far unveiled 16 names in their squad for their autumn fixtures, all from the southern hemisphere.
All Blacks internationals Adam Thomson, Francis Saili and Frank Halai are joined in the squad by Japan scrum-half Fumiaki Tanaka and former Samoa captain Mo Schwalger, plus New Zealand-based full-back Tim Nanai-Williams, wing Patrick Osborne and forward James Parsons.
Australia wing Nick Cummins and seven South Africa-based players – including former England and Lions prop Matt Stevens – are also included.
World Cup winner CJ Van der Linde will travel from South Africa with Heinrich Brussow, Coenie Oosthuizen, Thomas du Toit, Michael Rhodes and Jacques Botes.
The Tigers-Barbarians match will also feature a firework display after the final whistle.
Match tickets are available now at the Tigers ticket office, prices from £23 adults, £11 juniors. Please note this match is not included in Tigers season tickets.
Purchase in person at the Welford Road ticket office or phone 0116 319 8888 (option 2). The office is open 8.30am-5pm weekdays, until 8pm Wednesdays and 9am-5pm Saturdays.
Or click here to book online any time.
The famous black-and-white hooped shirts of the Barbarians come to Tigers on the evening of Tuesday, November 4 as part of their 125th anniversary celebrations.
Tigers and the Barbarians met annually at Welford Road each Christmas for 90 years up to 1998 and the invitational club return with a squad drawn from around the world this November.
Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill experienced playing both for and against the Baa-baas and remains a huge fan of the invitational club.
“I was brought up at Leicester on the Barbarians game being the biggest game of the season,” Cockerill says.
“To see your name on the teamsheet on the wall to face the Baa-baas was massive. I did that in my first year in 1992 when it was the biggest thing in my career at that point.
“The concept of the Barbarians is fantastic and it has kept that aura about it. It is something everyone in the game should cherish and support.
“People want to play at Welford Road too, it has that kind of name in rugby.
“I’m sure our game will be a great spectacle and a great contest at Welford Road.”
The Barbarians have so far unveiled 16 names in their squad for their autumn fixtures, all from the southern hemisphere.
All Blacks internationals Adam Thomson, Francis Saili and Frank Halai are joined in the squad by Japan scrum-half Fumiaki Tanaka and former Samoa captain Mo Schwalger, plus New Zealand-based full-back Tim Nanai-Williams, wing Patrick Osborne and forward James Parsons.
Australia wing Nick Cummins and seven South Africa-based players – including former England and Lions prop Matt Stevens – are also included.
World Cup winner CJ Van der Linde will travel from South Africa with Heinrich Brussow, Coenie Oosthuizen, Thomas du Toit, Michael Rhodes and Jacques Botes.
The Tigers-Barbarians match will also feature a firework display after the final whistle.
Match tickets are available now at the Tigers ticket office, prices from £23 adults, £11 juniors. Please note this match is not included in Tigers season tickets.
Purchase in person at the Welford Road ticket office or phone 0116 319 8888 (option 2). The office is open 8.30am-5pm weekdays, until 8pm Wednesdays and 9am-5pm Saturdays.
Or click here to book online any time.
