Baa-baa’s match will be biggest game in a generation

The Whites will conclude their 150^th season with a special commemorative match against a star-studded Baa-baa’s side at St Helens on Wednesday 31^st May with the two sides meeting for the first time in nearly 30 years.

A previously regular fixture in the calendar in times gone by, the Barbarians will travel to South Wales to help celebrate the White’s landmark three days after facing a World XV at Twickenham. 

Coached by Australian Eddie Jones the visitors will be touring with a host of big names including South African Centre Andre Esterhuizen, New Zealand fly-half Aaron Cruden and legendary ex-Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones. 

Many will not have witnessed the atmosphere and entertainment that matches with the Barbarians have brought to Swansea over the years with memorable moments etched deep in the club’s history. 

Having met for the first time in 1901 the sides regularly met on the last leg of an Easter tour for the Baa-baa’s, with matches famed for their attacking zealous open rugby style in fluidity, whilst oozing with passion.

Although the Baa-baa’s edge the statistics 41 wins to Swansea’s 39 with two draws in their 82 meetings, the match has never been looked upon by the purists to the scoreline. Instead seen as a meeting of rugby minds in a showcase of ball-in-hand rugby brilliance. 

Whether it was the effervescent running of speedster Rowe Harding or ‘Merve the swerve’ Davies, the talismanic leadership of scrum-half Rob Jones, the Welsh darling centre partnership of Scott Gibbs and Mark Taylor, or the prolific ability of backs Roger Blyth and Tony Clement, the game brings back fond memories of nostalgia and yesteryear.

Gustafson’s side will now become the 83 side to face off with the touring side with the match being a new experience for some and a welcome return for others. 

Whilst the fixture no longer is played on its annual basis, the Whites coach believes the match will represent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many of his players to experience playing at an elite level and play a crucial part in the growing development at the club.

“It’s a once-in-a-generation game for all of our players,” said Gustafson. 

“Some staff members and supporters remember 30 years ago but for our players, it is a new experience, and we are very privileged and lucky to have an opportunity to play against the Barbarians. 

“Our players are semi-professional and work in the day and get their boots and kit ready for the game in the night. It’s not like Baa-baas against the rest of the World, it’s players who are probably never going to have the opportunity to play some professionals and ex-professionals on the field. It’s very exciting for the club, but also for me and the players as well.

“There’s a buzz around, it’s almost turned into an event with a lot of fun parts going on throughout the day. It’ll be an exciting game with lots of free-flowing rugby and hopefully a generational game.

“There will be people there that have never been to a Baa-baa’s/Swansea game and some that have. Grandparents and parents will bring their children and grandchildren. Hopefully, it will be an exciting game for them.

“It is nice for the club and for St Helens as well on hopefully a nice sunny day. It will no doubt bring back some fond memories of games and where we have come from celebrating Swansea RFC as a club.

“It’s not just a great year for the profile of the club. Even though results haven’t gone our way on the field, we were in the top four in terms of our development and the things we are creating. There’s a great future in Swansea rugby. It is an exciting regional area for us as well with multiple Wales under-20s players playing, it’s exciting the pathway Swansea RFC is producing.

“People like Will Griffiths and Morgan Morris have passed through the Whites and are succeeding as is Liam Edwards in the Wales Under-20s. They have played for us and pushed through the age grade for the Whites and moved on, it’s exciting to see the Swansea school boys pushing through.

“It is nice for me as well as a coach. There is no pressure, it’s good for the players to just enjoy the experience and hopefully, we can play Baa-baa esc against them, have a bit of trick play and a bit of fun as well.”

With the line-ups likely to be announced in the coming week Gustafson is tight-lipped on who will be involved on the night but expects a few familiar faces old and new to be involved.

“We’ve had a few names mentioned which will be released over the next week. There won’t be many changes [for the Barbarians] from the World XV,” continued Gustafson. 

“There’re one or two Welsh boys included in that and a couple of retiring players this year, but there’s quite a few that will stay on and play against us. Most of the Majority that will play, will be in the Baa-baa’s team.

“People will go down and watch the likes of Cruden [Aaron], if they do play them. It’s going to be quite exciting to see some of these players and some that are moving clubs to England from a Welsh point of view. It’s nice for the fans to see them and have that aspect of watching players who might not play again afterwards.

“For us, there will be a lot of players playing that have played for the Whites before and some ex-players getting involved as well, but not a huge change on what we’ve been using recently. There may be one of two new signings for the new season coming in also to represent the club ahead of next season.”

With the game only a week and a half away now Gustafson is realistic that the match is going to be a tough test for his side but is keen to make sure his side puts on a show to entertain the bumper crowd. 

“I think it’ll be a fun game and a tough game. We are not going to play the style of go for the corner and go for points, we’re going to play as much tempo as we can possible and have a bit of fun with it, not making it a doom and gloom aspect of wins and losses,” enthused Gustafson. 

“We’re going to go out there to see how many tries we can score using the brand of rugby against the Baa-baa’s that is fun to watch, especially after the tough time we’ve had with Wales and for the fans where the cost of living has been tough recently. 

“If everybody can go out there for the night and enjoy a game of rugby for the purposes that it is and have some fun with it hopefully this memory will live on.

“I would really like to see people bringing their families, have a good time and remember what watching Swansea is like. Hopefully, with new fans, we can step forward with the new belief that the club is moving forward with a purpose.

“I want people to come back, remember the good times and watch a brand of rugby that can be enjoyed. On that Wednesday night It would be nice for people to forget all the troubles at their door and enjoy the atmosphere and event that it is.”

Lead image: Shane McIntosh (brother of Dale McIntosh) with Glen Webbe (Bridgend and Wales) on right and Ed Rayner (on floor) in 1994 (Image: Swansea RFC)