Sawt Falasteen - Sam Whitelock joins Barbarians squad for Fiji clash

The 35-year-old lock, the most-capped player in New Zealand's history, played his final game of professional club rugby for French Top 14 side Pau last weekend.

Whitelock played 153 times for the All Blacks and won back-to-back Rugby World Cups in 2011 and 2015, winning seven straight Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders from 2017 to 2023.

He joined French Top 14 side Pau for the 2023/24 campaign, scoring a try in his last appearance in a 36-24 win against Perpignan.

Whitelock, who has never played for the Barbarians, said he was delighted to have the chance to feature for the famous invitational side.

"I can't wait to experience a week with the BaaBaas and it's very exciting for me to be doing something for the first time after such a long career in rugby so far," he said.

"The Barbarians is a select group -- you have to be invited to play, and to get that invitation now is very humbling."

Other players in the Barbarians squad, led by New Zealander Robbie Deans, include England internationals Danny Care, Ben Youngs, Jonny May and Kyle Sinckler.

The match against the World Cup quarter-finalists Fiji at Twickenham, the home of English rugby, follows a Test between South Africa and Wales earlier in the day.

B.Mahmoud--SF-PST