Gelant and Van der Merwe named to face Springboks as Barbarians reveal star-studded XV

Warrick Gelant will line up against the country that last capped him in 2022 after the 31-year-old full-back was selected by Barbarians head coach Scott Robertson for Saturday’s clash against world champions South Africa at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

Gelant forms an all-international back three alongside his former schoolmate and Scotland winger Duhan van der Merwe and Australia’s Andrew Kellaway. The selection reunites two players with deep Springbok ties on the same side of the ball against the team they once represented or aspired to face at Test level.

TJ Perenara captains the side, returning to the famous invitational club for the first time since facing Fiji in 2013. The 89-cap All Black partners Toulon and Argentina playmaker Tomas Albornoz at half-back in a squad that draws on 19 internationals from 11 different nations.

The pack carries considerable weight and experience. Gloucester’s Mayco Vivas, Wales hooker Elliot Dee of the Dragons, and Edinburgh tight-head D’Arcy Rae make up the front row. New Western Force signing Franco Molina, the Los Pumas lock, partners Bayonne’s Alex Moon in the second row. Harlequins’ Guido Petti and Panasonic Wild Knights’ Lachlan Boshier start at flanker, with Samoa’s Miracle Fai’ilagi wearing the No. 8 jersey.

The replacements bench carries a strong South American flavour, with Argentina’s Lionel Oviedo and Pedro Delgado joined by Uruguay’s Santiago Arata.

“We are all really excited for Saturday afternoon. To play against the world champions in South Africa is an awesome opportunity,” Robertson said. “We have embraced the Barbarians spirit and tradition this week, coming together as a group and enjoying each other’s company in Cape Town. It’s a team packed with talent, guys who have come from all over the world and have a great chance to showcase their ability in Port Elizabeth. We want to express ourselves and do the famous black and white jersey proud.”

On the South Africa side, Rassie Erasmus has named Riley Norton — the Springboks’ World Rugby Junior World Championship-winning captain from 2025 — in his starting XV for the fixture.