The Barbarian Rugby Club, more commonly known as the French Barbarians, is a

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...

team formed in 1979 and based in France. It was founded as an amateur invitational team modeled on the Barbarian F.C. From the start of the 2017–18 season, the French Barbarians became the official second national team of the French Rugby Federation, which had previously designated either the France U20 side or

France A France A, also known as France XV and France B in the past, was the former name of the second national rugby union team of France behind the French national side. In 2011 the French Rugby Federation designated the France U20 team as the secon ...

as that team. The French Barbarians play in sky, navy and royal blue hooped jerseys. As with the original Barbarians, players retain the socks from their "home" club strip.

History

Jean-Claude Skrela Jean-Claude Skrela (born 1 October 1949 in Colomiers, Haute-Garonne) is a former coach of the French national rugby union team. His son, David Skrela, is a French rugby union player and his daughter, Gaëlle Skrela, is a professional basketball p ...

founded the club after he had played for, and adored, the original

Barbarians A barbarian (or savage) is someone who is perceived to be either uncivilized or primitive. The designation is usually applied as a generalization based on a popular stereotype; barbarians can be members of any nation judged by some to be les ...

in the later days of his career. Through the amateur era, all players chosen for the side were either French or played for French clubs. One of the most recent matches was against the Argentina national team (Los Pumas) in early 2007, as part of their preparation for the

2007 Rugby World Cup The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 2 ...

. For the game, held in

Biarritz Biarritz ( , , , ; Basque also ; oc, Biàrritz ) is a city on the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic coast in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the French Basque Country in southwestern France. It is located from the border with Spa ...

, the coaches were Jacques Delmas (Biarritz), Patrice Lagisquet (Biarritz) and were captained by Thomas Lièvremont. While in 2008 they beat

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...

in Victoria. They played with Argentina at José Amalfitani Stadium in Buenos Aires on 20 June 2009 as part of the mid-year test series, and lost 32–18. In 2016 the French Barbarians beat Australia XV by 19–11 in their first match against an Australian side for over twenty years. And in late 2017 they beat the

Māori All Blacks The Māori All Blacks, previously called the New Zealand Maori, New Zealand Maoris and New Zealand Natives, are a rugby union team from New Zealand. They are a representative team of the New Zealand Rugby Union, and a prerequisite for playing i ...

19–15 in the Autumn internationals, which was the first time playing that side.

Matches against international sides

Overall

Current squad

French Barbarians squad to face the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

on 1 July 2022 as part of the

2022 mid-year rugby union tests The 2022 mid-year rugby union internationals (also known as the summer internationals in the Northern Hemisphere) were international rugby union matches that were mostly played in the Southern Hemisphere during the July international window. For ...

. Coaches:

Christian Labit Christian Labit (born 11 February 1971) is a French rugby player. He played for both RC Narbonne and Stade Toulousain and then moved to English club Northampton Saints. He was a member of France's 2003 Rugby World Cup squad. Whilst at Toulouse he ...

and Kevin Gourdon Note: Bold denotes players that have represented the French Barbarians in previous matches. ''Italics'' represents uncapped players.

Former players

Malik Hamadache Malik Hamadache (born 6 December 1988) is a French-Algerian rugby union player who currently plays for Section Paloise and is an Algerian international. He plays as a prop. Playing career Malik Hamadache was born in Avignon in a family wher ...

Miguel Avramovic Miguel Avramovic (born 18 July 1981 in Buenos Aires) is an Argentine rugby union footballer currently playing for Agen in the Top 14. He has also played for Worcester Warriors in the Premiership. He usually plays in at centre or fullback. He h ...

* Lucas Borges *

Mauricio Reggiardo Mauricio Horacio Reggiardo (born 22 February 1970 in Bragado) is a retired Argentina, Argentine rugby union footballer. He played as a prop. He is currently the head coach of Rugby Pro D2, Pro D2 side Provence Rugby, Provence. Reggiardo played f ...

* Alberto Vernet Basualdo * David Campese * John Eales * Nick Farr-Jones *

James O'Connor James O'Connor may refer to: Politics and law * James O'Connor (Louisiana politician) (1870–1941), U.S Representative from Louisiana * James F. O'Connor (1878–1945), U.S Representative from Montana * James Francis Thaddeus O'Connor (1886–1 ...

* George Smith * Robins Tchale-Watchou * Mike James * Silvère Tian * Richard Pool-Jones * Peter Winterbottom * Rupeni Caucaunibuca * Waisale Serevi *

Marika Vunibaka Marika "Dawainavesi" Vunibaka (born 3 November 1974) is a Fijian former rugby union player. He represented the Fiji national team on numerous occasions, including at the 1999 Rugby World Cup in Wales and the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia. ...

* Louis Armary *

David Aucagne David Aucagne (born 14 February 1973) is a retired France, French rugby union player. Aucagne, who played at Rugby union positions#10. Fly-half, fly-half, has been the coach of the France national under-20 rugby union team, French under-20 team sin ...

* Teddy Baubigny * Alexi Balès *

Pierre-Louis Barassi Pierre-Louis Barassi (born 22 April 1998) is a French rugby union player who plays for Toulouse in the Top 14 and the French national team. His position is centre. International career He was not initially named in France's squad for the 201 ...

* Abdelatif Benazzi *

Philippe Benetton Philippe Benetton (born Cahors, 18 May 1968) is a former French rugby union footballer and currently head coach of Tournon d'Agenais. He played as a flanker. Benetton had two teams during his career, Cahors and Agen, where he played until 2003. H ...

* Pierre Berbizier *

Philippe Bernat-Salles Philippe Bernat-Salles (born 17 February 1970) is a retired French rugby union player, usually playing as a wing. His main skill was a blinding speed, while he was also visually striking due to his unruly mop of gray hair. Early life Bernat-Sa ...

* Serge Betsen *

Serge Blanco Serge Blanco (born 31 August 1958) is a former rugby union footballer who played fullback for Biarritz Olympique and the French national side, gaining 93 caps, 81 of them at fullback. His alternative position was wing. He was generally nicknam ...

* Éric Bonneval * Olivier Brouzet * Nicolas Brusque * Laurent Cabannes * Jean-Marie Cadieu *

Didier Camberabero Didier Camberabero (born 9 January 1961), is a former French international rugby union player. He played as fly half. Biography Camberabero is a son of the former international, Guy Camberabero, and the nephew of Lilian Camberabero, two broth ...

Louis Carbonel Louis Carbonel (born 4 February 1999) is a French rugby union player. His position is fly-half and he currently plays for Montpellier in the Top 14. International honours France (U20) * Six Nations Under 20s Championship winners: 2018 *World ...

* Alain Carminati * Thomas Castaignède * Richard Castel *

Marc Cécillon Marc Cécillon (born 30 July 1959 in Bourgoin-Jallieu, Isère) is a former French rugby union player and convicted murderer, who captained the national side on five occasions. He represented France from 1988 to 1995, with 46 test caps, including ...

Denis Charvet Denis Charvet (born 12 May 1962 in Cahors) is a former French rugby union player. He played as a centre. Denis Charvet played for Stade Toulousain and Racing Club de France. He earned his first national cap on March 1, 1986 against Wales at Car ...

* Gérard Cholley *

Vincent Clerc Vincent Clerc (born 7 May 1981) is a former French rugby union player who played on the wing. Birth and early career Born in the city of Échirolles, suburb of the south of Grenoble (Isère), Clerc first played rugby at FC Grenoble, helping the ...

Didier Codorniou Didier Codorniou (born 13 February 1958 in Narbonne)Didier Codorniou player profile
ESPN ...

Franck Comba Franck Comba (born March 16, 1971, in Hyeres) is a former French rugby union player. He played as centre. Comba began playing with RC Toulon. He moved to Stade Français with Christophe Dominici, where he played from 1997/98 to 2002/03. He won ...

* Jean Condom * Jean-Jacques Crenca * Dylan Cretin *

Marc Dal Maso Marc Dal Maso (born Escalans, 14 February 1967) is a former French rugby union player and a current coach. He played in the position of a hooker. Athletic career He played for Stade Montois, moving then to SU Agen. He then played for Colomiers ( ...

* Marc de Rougemont * Christophe Deylaud * Philippe Dintrans *

Christophe Dominici Christophe Dominici (20 May 1972 – 24 November 2020) was a French rugby union player. In a career spanning seventeen years between 1991 and 2008, he played wing for Stade Français and France, scoring a total of 25 tries in 67 international c ...

* Yves Donguy * Pierre Dospital * Michel Droitecourt *

Daniel Dubroca Daniel Dubroca (born 25 April 1954) is a former French national rugby union player and coach. He played as a prop and as a hooker. Biography Dubroca was born at Aiguillon. He played all his career at SU Agen, starting at 1969/70. He was promote ...

* Jean-Baptiste Elissalde * Jean-Pierre Elissalde * Dominique Erbani * Jérôme Fillol * Jacques Fouroux *

Fabien Galthié Fabien Galthié (; born 20 March 1969) is a French rugby union coach and former player, he is currently the head coach of the French national team. His usual position was at scrum-half. He played much of his club rugby for Colomiers, and later ...

* Xavier Garbajosa * Jean-Pierre Garuet-Lempirou *

Stéphane Glas Stéphane Glas (born 12 November 1973 in Bourgoin-Jallieu, Isère, Dauphiné) is a French rugby union footballer. He currently plays for Stade Francais Paris in the top level of French rugby, the Top 14 competition. He previously played for Bou ...

* Arthur Gomes *

Jean-Michel Gonzalez Jean-Michel Gonzalez (born Bayonne, 10 July 1967), nicknamed ''Gonzo'', is a former French rugby union footballer and a current coach. He played as a hooker and as a prop. Gonzalez played for Cambo-Les-Bains, in his first years, Aviron Bayonnais, ...

* Antoine Guillamon * Francis Haget * Dominique Harize *

Cédric Heymans Cédric Heymans (born 20 July 1978) is a French former rugby union footballer who played mainly as a wing or a full-back for French Top 14 club Toulouse and the French national team. Known for his pace and his footwork, he started his club car ...

* Aubin Hueber * Jean-François Imbernon * Jean-Luc Joinel *

Jordan Joseph Jordan Joseph (born 31 July 2000) is a French rugby union player. His position is in the back row and he currently plays for Pau on loan from Racing 92 in the Top 14. Honours International France (U20) *World Rugby Under 20 Championship ...

* Jean-Baptiste Lafond *

Patrice Lagisquet Patrice Lagisquet (born 4 September 1962) is a former French rugby union footballer and a current coach. He played as a wing. He was nicknamed "The Bayonne Express". Lagisquet was born in Arcachon. He first played at U.A. Gujan-Mestras, until mo ...

Guy Laporte Guy Laporte (15 December 1952 – 28 January 2022) was a French rugby union player and a sports executive. He played as a fly-half. Career Laporte was born in Beaufort, Haute-Garonne, Beaufort, French Fourth Republic, France. He first played for ...

Christophe Laussucq Christophe Laussucq (born May 20, 1973, in Bordeaux) is a French former rugby union footballer and current coach for Agen in the Top 14. Christophe Laussucq's position of choice was scrum-half. He earned 4 caps for the France national team, maki ...

Jean-Patrick Lescarboura Jean-Patrick Lescarboura (born Monein, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, 19 January 1961) is a former French rugby union footballer and coach. His position was fly-half. Lescarboura first team was SA Monein. He spent afterwards his career at US Dax, from 19 ...

Marc Lièvremont Marc Lièvremont (born 28 October 1968) is a former rugby union footballer and was the head coach of the French national rugby union team. He played as a back-row forward for France, gaining 25 caps from 1995 to 1999, and was selected in France's ...

* Thomas Lièvremont * Sylvain Marconnet * Jimmy Marlu * Tony Marsh *

Rémy Martin Rémy Martin () is a French firm that primarily produces and sells cognac. Founded in 1724 and based in the commune of Cognac, it is among the oldest cognac producers still in existence. and one of the "big four" cognac houses (along with Henne ...

Olivier Merle Olivier Merle (born 14 November 1965 in Chamalières, Puy-de-Dôme) is a former French rugby union footballer. He played as a lock. He was known by several nicknames, including "La Merluche" and "Le Massif Central". He was known for his violent pl ...

Franck Mesnel Franck Mesnel (born 30 June 1961, Neuilly-sur-Seine) is a former French rugby union footballer. He played as a fly-half and as a centre. He is the founder of the French rugby and leisure clothing brand Eden Park. The company was founded in 1987 ...

Frédéric Michalak Frédéric Michalak (born 16 October 1982) is a former French rugby union footballer. His early career was spent playing for his hometown team, Toulouse, in the Top 14 and in the Heineken Cup. He moved to South Africa to play for the Sharks in ...

Vincent Moscato Thierry Vincent Moscato, known as Vincent Moscato (born 28 July 1965, in Paris) is a former French rugby union player as well as radio talk host and actor. Moscato played as a hooker. He won the French Top 14 title with CA Bordeaux-Bègles Giron ...

Émile Ntamack Émile "Milou" Ntamack (born 25 June 1970) is a French former rugby union footballer. He played professionally for Stade Toulousain and France, winning 46 caps. Ntamack made his French debut against Wales during the 1994 Five Nations Championshi ...

Romain Ntamack Romain Ntamack (born 1 May 1999) is a French rugby union fly-half who currently plays for Toulouse in the Top 14, and the France national rugby union team. International career In November 2017, Ntamack was selected for the French Barbarian te ...

Pascal Ondarts Pascal Ondarts (born 1 April 1956, in Méharin) is a former French Basque rugby union player. He played as a prop and as a hooker. He was considered by The Times one of the 10 most frightening French players ever to represent his National Team. On ...

Alain Paco Alain Paco (born 1 March 1952) is a former French rugby union player and a current coach. He played as a hooker. He played for AS Béziers. He went to win six titles of French Champion, for 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977 and 1978. Paco earned his ...

* Michel Palmié *

Boris Palu Boris Palu (born 4 February 1996) is a French professional rugby union player. He currently plays at lock for Racing 92 in the Top 14 The Top 14 () is a professional rugby union club competition that is played in France. Created in 1892, the ...

Robert Paparemborde Robert Paparemborde (5 July 1948 – 19 April 2001), was a French rugby union player. He was capped 55 times, 5 as captain, for the French national side. He was regarded as one of the greatest prop-forwards and was a member of the French team ...

* Laurent Pardo * Adrien Pélissié *

Fabien Pelous Fabien Pelous (born 7 December 1973) is a retired French rugby union footballer. A lock who also occasionally played as a number eight and flanker, he played the bulk of his professional career for Stade Toulousain, and is the all-time leader i ...

Jean-Baptiste Poux Jean-Baptiste Poux (; born 26 September 1979) is a former France, French rugby union footballer who played as a Rugby union positions#1. Loosehead prop .26 3. Tighthead prop, prop, and was capable of playing loosehead and tighthead. Poux began hi ...

Thibaut Privat Thibaut Privat (born 4 February 1979) is a former French international rugby union player. He played as a Lock for AS Béziers, Montferrand and Montpellier. He was called up as an injury replacement for Olivier Brouzet at the 2003 Rugby World ...

* Pierre Rabadan * Swan Rebbadj * Arthur Retière *

Jean-Pierre Rives Jean-Pierre Rives (born 31 December 1952) is a French former rugby union player and visual artist. "A cult figure in France", according to the '' BBC'', he came to epitomise the team's spirit and "ultra-committed, guts-and-glory style of play".

Laurent Rodriguez Laurent Rodriguez (born 25 June 1960) is a retired French rugby player. He made his international debut for France on 5 July 1981 in a test against Australia. Rodriguez was called for the 1987 Rugby World Cup, where France was runners-up to New ...

Jean-Pierre Romeu Jean-Pierre Romeu (born 15 April 1948) is a former French rugby union footballer. His position was fly-half. He was nicknamed ''Le Gaulois'' (The Gaul), for his moustache. He first played for US Carmaux, in 1967/68. He moved afterwards to ASM C ...

* Aurélien Rougerie *

Olivier Roumat Olivier Roumat (born 16 June 1966 in Mont-de-Marsan) is a former French rugby union footballer. He played as a number-eight, openside flanker and lock. Club career Roumat first played at Villeneuve-de-Marsan, moving then to US Dax, where he prem ...

Philippe Saint-André Philippe Georges Saint-André (; born 19 April 1967) is a former French rugby union footballer and currently the manager of Top 14 side Montpellier. He earned 69 test caps for France between 1990 and 1997. His preferred position was wing but he ...

Jean-Luc Sadourny Jean-Luc Sadourny (born 26 August 1966 in Toulouse) is a former French rugby union footballer and a current coach. He played as a fullback. He was nicknamed ''The Old Woman'' (''La Vieille'') and he is generally considered one of the best French pl ...

* Philippe Sella *

David Skrela David Skrela (born 2 March 1979) is a former French rugby union footballer. He most notably played for Stade Français and Toulouse in the Top 14 as well as the French national side as a fly-half or centre. He was renowned for his tackles and his ...

Cédric Soulette Cédric Soulette (born 30 May 1972) is a French rugby union footballer. He currently plays for the AS Béziers club. In the past, he also played for Toulouse Toulouse ( , ; oc, Tolosa ) is the prefecture of the French department of Haute-Ga ...

* Jérôme Thion * Jean-François Tordo * Diego Domínguez * Hugo MacNeill *

Fergus Slattery John Fergus Slattery (born 12 February 1949 in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland) is a former rugby union player who represented Ireland. He played schools rugby for Blackrock College and then moved on to play senior rugby for UCD, before earning a call ...

* Ian Jones *

Josh Kronfeld Joshua Adrian Kronfeld (born 20 June 1971) is a TV presenter and a former rugby union footballer who represented New Zealand at international level and Otago, the Highlanders and Leicester at first-class level. During his international career, K ...

Simon Mannix Simon James Mannix (born 10 August 1971 in Lower Hutt, New Zealand) is a former rugby union footballer who now serves as head coach of Pau in the Top 14 having previously worked as backs coach for Munster and Racing Metro. Mannix played one tes ...

Chris Masoe Chris Masoe (born 15 May 1979 in Savaii, Western Samoa) is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer, who last played for Racing Metro 92 in the Top 14 and a current professional boxer. He is the brother of boxer Maselino Masoe. He was bor ...

* David Smith *

Grzegorz Kacała Grzegorz Kacała (born 15 March 1966) is a Polish former professional rugby union and rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s, and has coached rugby union in the 2000s and 2010s. He was born on 15 March 1966. In rugby union, his position w ...

Naas Botha Hendrik Egnatius 'Naas' Botha (born 27 February 1958) is a South African former rugby union player, who played for Northern Transvaal and South Africa (the Springboks). He was voted ''Rugby Player of the Year'' in 1979, 1981, 1985 and 1987. B ...

* Brett Gosper * Filipo Toala

Honours

Melrose Sevens Melrose Sevens is an annual rugby sevens event held by Melrose Rugby Club, at The Greenyards in Melrose, Scotland. It is the oldest rugby sevens competition in the world, dating back to 1883 when the tournament was suggested by former Melrose ...

** Champions (1): 1983

References

External links

Official Website
{{Rugby union in France Barbarian F.C. International rugby union teams

Rugby clubs established in 1979 1979 establishments in France