Madigan called up to Barbarians squad for England and Ulster showdowns

By Simon Hunter

Ireland and Bordeaux fly-half Ian Madigan has been named in the Barbarians squad to face England and Ulster.

Ruan Pienaar is also in the list, as well as Irish prop Mike Ross.

The iconic team will go head to head with England at Twickenham on May 28th, before a clash with Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium on June 1st.

It's expected Pienaar will make his final provincial appearance for the Ulstermen in the Belfast match.

📽 | Ruan Pienaar looking ahead to busy few days where he will play for and against @Barbarian_FC! Match tickets ➡️ https://t.co/PoENRNtved pic.twitter.com/Rv3HWTrHSu

— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) May 22, 2017

Vern Cotters' squad will have a total of 1,018 international caps between them.

As creative in attack as Mark Zuckerberg with a laptop & a good night's sleep 🤓

Visionary @Ian_Madigan 🇮🇪

#rugby 🏉 #rugbyunited pic.twitter.com/UOshfKCaxd

— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) May 23, 2017

Barbarians squad

Backs: Horacio Agulla (Castres & Argentina), Adam Ashley-Cooper (Bordeaux Begles & Australia), Yann David (Toulouse and France), Kahn Fotuali'i (Bath Rugby & Samoa), Robbie Freuan (Bath Rugby), Rory Kockott (Castres & France), Ian Madigan (Bordeaux Begles & Ireland), Timoci Nagusa (Montpellier & Fiji), Waisea Nayacalavu (Stade Francais & Fiji), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster & South Africa), David Smith (Castres), Frans Steyn (Montpellier & South Africa).

Forwards: Patricio Albacete (Toulouse & Argentina), Steffon Armitage (Pau & England), Schalk Brits (Saracens & South Africa), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse & France), Corey Flynn (Star RFC & New Zealand), Ben Franks (London Irish & New Zealand), Gillian Galan (Toulouse), Richard Hibbard (Gloucester & Wales), Facundo Isa (Lyon & Argentina), Census Johnston (Toulouse & Samoa), Mikheil Nariashvili (Montpellier & Georgia), WP Nel (Edinburgh & Scotland), Mike Ross (Leinster & Ireland), Joe Tekori (Toulouse & Samoa), Jeremy Thrush (Gloucester & New Zealand).

Big announcement coming in the morning! https://t.co/BG9ueubvaL

— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) May 22, 2017