Scotland's Duhan van der Merwe discusses 'massive honour' as winger called up to Barbarians squad
Edinburgh try machine set for South Africa warm-up ahead of Nations Championship Test matches.
Three Scotland players have been called up to the Barbarians squad for their summer matches with South Africa and Wales.
Edinburgh Rugby trio Duhan van der Merwe, D’arcy Rae and Liam McConnell will join up with the tourists prior to their first match at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on June 20. All three players have also been named in the Scotland squad for their Nations Championship Summer Tests and The Scotsman understands that van der Merwe and Rae are expected to join up with Gregor Townsend’s squad immediately following the first Babas match, while McConnell will remain for the Welsh fixture.
Only a small selection of players have been confirmed for the fixtures with the Scottish trio joining the likes of iconic All Blacks scrum-half TJ Perenara, England prop Kyle Sinckler and Argentina international fly-half Tomás Albornoz. Australian utility back Andrew Kellaway and Uruguay scrum-half Santiago Arata are also called up.
Duhan van der Merwe ‘can’t wait’ to play for Barbarians as winger heads back to South Africa
Speaking on his selection, van der Merwe said: “I can’t wait to join up with the Barbarians this summer. It is a massive honour and opportunity to represent them, it’s something I’ve always wanted to be part of so to get this opportunity is massive.
“The Barbarians is a rugby institution and have some tough tests coming. To play for them against the World Champions will be a massive challenge and one I’m really looking forward too.
“It was frustrating the way our season ended with Edinburgh so to have the chance to get minutes in the legs ahead of the Scotland games in the Nations Championship will be really beneficial.”
The Barbarians take on South Africa on June 20 before facing Wales at England’s Twickenham Stadium on June 27 which will be part of a double header with Wales Women taking on a Barbarians Women side. Scotland open their Nations Championship against Argentina in Cordoba on July 4 in Cordoba.
They then face South Africa at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on July 11. Their final Test match of the summer will see them take on Fiji at Murrayfield on July 18 and the tournament will resume later this year in the Autumn.
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.