Barbarians call-up a timely boost for D'Arcy

IRELAND’S Gordon D’Arcy has been named in a Barbarians squad for matches against England and Australia. The Leinster centre, though, will be hoping that instead of playing at Twickenham and then in Sydney he will instead be required to tour with the Lions in South Africa.

The dislocated shoulder suffered by Cardiff and Wales centre Tom Shanklin means there is a vacancy in the touring party, which coach Ian McGeechan is expected to fill within the next 48 hours, having met his management team yesterday.

D’Arcy is a leading contender, along with Wasps and England utility back Josh Lewsey and London Irish and England’s Delon Armitage. The Irishman’s provincial and international midfield partnership with Brian O’Driscoll and his current form should make for a persuasive argument in his favour.

McGeechan is a fan of Lewsey (he retires at the end of the season), whom he coaches at club level, while the fact the versatile Armitage can play fullback, wing and outside centre – he filled the latter position for London Irish against Harlequins at the weekend – makes him an attractive option.

Welsh centre Gavin Henson is expected to be back to full fitness within the next fortnight but would have no game time under his belt prior to departure.

McGeechan will also await with interest the outcome of today’s ERC disciplinary hearing in Dublin, where Munster and Ireland flanker Alan Quinlan will have to explain his actions in an incident involving Leinster secondrow Leo Cullen during the Heineken Cup semi-final.

D’Arcy’s “consolation prize” were he to miss out on the Lions would be to don the Barbarians jersey for matches against England at Twickenham (May 30th) and Australia in Sydney (June 6th).

His international team-mate, Leicester Tiger’s Geordan Murphy, is also included.

They join the Irish-based BJ Botha (Ulster), Doug Howlett (Munster) and Rocky Elsom (Leinster.

Cardiff coach Dai Young, who will take charge of the Barbarians, admitted: “I’m delighted with the squad that’s been selected and I’m looking forward to working with them and London Irish assistant coach Mike Catt when we meet up on May 26th.”

The Barbarians captain will be announced that day.

“The squad is full of quality players, including a number of RWC, Tri-Nations and Grand Slam winners,” Young said, “and I’m expecting them to give a very good account of themselves when they play England and Australia.”

BARBARIANS SQUAD(v England, Twickenham, Saturday, May 30th and v Australia, Sydney, Saturday, June 6th): I Balshaw (Gloucester and England), B Blair (Cardiff Blues, New Zealand), G D'Arcy (Leinster, Ireland), P Grant (Stormers, South Africa), D Howlett (Munster, New Zealand), J Lewsey (Wasps, England), S Mapusua (London Irish, Samoa), J Marshall (Saracens, New Zealand), L McAllister (Sale Sharks, New Zealand), G Murphy (Leicester Tigers, Ireland), S B Williams (Toulon), D Yachvilli (Biarritz Olympique, France), S Betsen (Wasps, France), B J Botha (Ulster, South Africa), S Brits (Stormers, South Africa), S Bruno (Sale Sharks, France), J Collins (Toulon, New Zealand), M Corry (Leicester Tigers, England), R Elsom (Leinster, Australia), J Harrison (Bath, Australia), C Jack (Saracens, New Zealand), G Somerville (Gloucester, New Zealand), I Thomas (Scarlets, Wales), P Tito (Cardiff Blues).