How Much Longer Can Baa-Baas Last?

The Barbarians are one of the most iconic brands in rugby, but are they still relevant in today’s world?

- Colin Boag

Everyone has seen the highlights of the famous Baa-Baas’ game against New Zealand back in 1973, which was the year Britain joined the EEC, when Ted Heath was our Prime Minister, Jackie Stewart was Formula 1 world champion, and rugby was still 22 years away from becoming a professional sport.

That game, and in particular, that famous try, epitomises the Baa-Baas legend, but it was almost 50 years ago, and the reality is that their relevance has diminished over the years.

The mystique of the BaaBaas, of course, lives on, and players still cherish getting their shirt, but that now tends to happen towards the end of their careers – in their prime they’re too busy to fit in ‘jollies’.

The Barbarians epitomise the old Corinthian spirit, but in today’s professional rugby world, they’ve gradually become more of a side-show than the main event. Such remarks will be regarded as verging on sacrilege by some, but that’s the reality.

This autumn we’ve seen them play Fiji at Twickenham, play Brazil in Sao Paulo, and then yesterday take on Wales in the Principality Stadium.