Barbarians call-up for Dempsey and Maggs

Ireland internationals Girvan Dempsey and Kevin Maggs have been confirmed for the Barbarians tour of Scotland and England next…

Ireland internationals Girvan Dempsey and Kevin Maggs have been confirmed for the Barbarians tour of Scotland and England next month. Maggs, who has 69 caps, played for the Barbarians against Scotland and Wales in 2001 while Dempsey, another member of the 50-cap club, is a new Barbarian.

The duo is set to be joined by several of their countrymen when the full squad is released later this month.

The tour starts against Scotland at Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen, on May 24th (7.30pm) and concludes with the TIBCO Challenge match against England at Twickenham on May 28th (3pm).

Kenny Logan will retire from international duty after the tour. Capped 70 times by Scotland, Logan admitted: "The opportunity to play my last representative game for the Barbarians against a Scotland XV means a lot to me."

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The French contingent will include Thomas Castaignede and Sebastien Chabal while former Lions players Darren Morris of Wales and England's Mark Regan will provide formidable frontrow selection options.

Australian World Cup winner Bob Dwyer will again coach the squad. Several top-ranking Wallabies, Springboks and All Blacks will travel for the tour.

Meanwhile, Munster last night held a dinner at Dundrum House Hotel, Tipperary, to honour Jim Williams, Jason Holland, Gordon McIlwham and Tom Bowman who are retiring from rugby at the end of the season.

Samoan wing Brian Lima is continuing his rehabilitation from a torn leg muscle and Munster are hopeful he will be available for the Celtic Cup quarter-final against Edinburgh.

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan is an Irish Times sports writer