When the Barbarians take on Fiji at Kingspan Stadium on Friday 11th November, it will be the first time the famous invitational side have visited Belfast in almost 60 years.
On their previous visit, 19th October 1957, the Baa Baas took on an Ulster Select XV at the former Ravenhill grounds, with the touring side winning 14-11.
On that day, the Barbarians had 9 internationals in their starting XV and joining them in the famous black and white jersey was Malone clubman John Ross. Ross, who also made several appearances for Ulster, got a late call up to the team and took his place in the second row alongside a host of international talent:
“I remember getting the phone call to be asked to play, and it was certainly quite a shock. I would have played with most of the Ulster players of that time, but it was a great honour for me to be selected for the Barbarians. There were some great players on the pitch that day but Jack Kyle was without doubt the outstanding player of that time.”
The occasion was also proudly shared by another Ulster man, Belfast referee Ray Williams, who took charge of the historic encounter.
Williams, who refereed at international level from 1957 until 1964, including 3 tests on the Wilson Whineray led New Zealand tour to the Northern Hemisphere, noted it was a great privilege to be asked to referee a Barbarians game in his home city:
"I was taken aback and pleased at the honour of being selected to referee the Barbarians for their first ever visit to Belfast.”
Though the 92-year-old doesn’t recall much about the actual events of the game, there was one player who he has particular fond memories of:
“It was a pleasure to referee when Jack Kyle played - he had a lovely personality, was modest, quiet and always had a few kind words for me at the end of the game."
Upon learning that the Barbarians would be coming back to Belfast, Williams was recently accompanied by his son David for a VIP tour of Kingspan Stadium and The Nevin Spence Centre. A lot had changed since his time refereeing in the famous old stadium, and as Williams remarked, “in my day the referee didn’t have the luxury of a separate room to change in – you had to get changed in the home team’s changing room!”
Barbarians Team v Ulster Select XV, 19 October 1957:
15 DF Allison (Coventry & England)
14 JC Walker (Edinburgh Academicals)
13 RR Winn (Northampton)
12 C James (Llanelly)
11 WA Gray (Blackheath)
10 Lloyd Williams (Cardiff & Wales)
9 GH Waddell (Devonport Services & Scotland)
1 GW Hastings (Gloucester & England)
2 RKG MacEwen (Lansdowne & Scotland)
3 PR Dowse (Dublin University)
4 RJ Robins (Pontypridd & Wales)
5 JH Ross (Ulster)
6 AR Higgins (Liverpool & England)
7 JT Greenwood (Dunfermline & Scotland)
8 B Sparkes (Torquay & Wales)
Ulster Select XV:
15 GMW Murphy (London-Irish & Ireland)
14 D Glass (Collegians & Ulster)
13 R Lee (Liverpool & Lancashire)
12 D Hewitt (Queens University & Ulster)
11 NJ Hamilton (Queens University & Ulster)
10 JW Kyle (NIFC & Ireland) (Captain)
9 M Piggot (Collegians & Ulster)
1 J Donaldson (Collegians & Ulster)
2 R Kavanagh (Wanderers & Ireland)
3 EL Brown (Instonians & Ulster)
4 CI Dick (Queens University & Ulster)
5 JR Brady (CIYMS & Ireland)
6 JI Brennan (CIYMS & Ireland)
7 WM Patterson (Cambridge University)
8 D O’Donnell (Instonians & Ulster)
Touch Judges: TN Brownlee (Collegian) & CR Owens (Malone)
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Tickets to the Barbarians v Fiji match at Kingspan Stadium, Belfast, are priced from just £20 for adults and £12 for juniors, and are available to purchase online at www.ulsterrugby.com/buytickets or by calling the Ulster Rugby Ticket Office on (028) 9049 3222. Group bookings and hospitality packages are also available.
On their previous visit, 19th October 1957, the Baa Baas took on an Ulster Select XV at the former Ravenhill grounds, with the touring side winning 14-11.
On that day, the Barbarians had 9 internationals in their starting XV and joining them in the famous black and white jersey was Malone clubman John Ross. Ross, who also made several appearances for Ulster, got a late call up to the team and took his place in the second row alongside a host of international talent:
“I remember getting the phone call to be asked to play, and it was certainly quite a shock. I would have played with most of the Ulster players of that time, but it was a great honour for me to be selected for the Barbarians. There were some great players on the pitch that day but Jack Kyle was without doubt the outstanding player of that time.”
The occasion was also proudly shared by another Ulster man, Belfast referee Ray Williams, who took charge of the historic encounter.
Williams, who refereed at international level from 1957 until 1964, including 3 tests on the Wilson Whineray led New Zealand tour to the Northern Hemisphere, noted it was a great privilege to be asked to referee a Barbarians game in his home city:
"I was taken aback and pleased at the honour of being selected to referee the Barbarians for their first ever visit to Belfast.”
Though the 92-year-old doesn’t recall much about the actual events of the game, there was one player who he has particular fond memories of:
“It was a pleasure to referee when Jack Kyle played - he had a lovely personality, was modest, quiet and always had a few kind words for me at the end of the game."
Upon learning that the Barbarians would be coming back to Belfast, Williams was recently accompanied by his son David for a VIP tour of Kingspan Stadium and The Nevin Spence Centre. A lot had changed since his time refereeing in the famous old stadium, and as Williams remarked, “in my day the referee didn’t have the luxury of a separate room to change in – you had to get changed in the home team’s changing room!”
Barbarians Team v Ulster Select XV, 19 October 1957:
15 DF Allison (Coventry & England)
14 JC Walker (Edinburgh Academicals)
13 RR Winn (Northampton)
12 C James (Llanelly)
11 WA Gray (Blackheath)
10 Lloyd Williams (Cardiff & Wales)
9 GH Waddell (Devonport Services & Scotland)
1 GW Hastings (Gloucester & England)
2 RKG MacEwen (Lansdowne & Scotland)
3 PR Dowse (Dublin University)
4 RJ Robins (Pontypridd & Wales)
5 JH Ross (Ulster)
6 AR Higgins (Liverpool & England)
7 JT Greenwood (Dunfermline & Scotland)
8 B Sparkes (Torquay & Wales)
Ulster Select XV:
15 GMW Murphy (London-Irish & Ireland)
14 D Glass (Collegians & Ulster)
13 R Lee (Liverpool & Lancashire)
12 D Hewitt (Queens University & Ulster)
11 NJ Hamilton (Queens University & Ulster)
10 JW Kyle (NIFC & Ireland) (Captain)
9 M Piggot (Collegians & Ulster)
1 J Donaldson (Collegians & Ulster)
2 R Kavanagh (Wanderers & Ireland)
3 EL Brown (Instonians & Ulster)
4 CI Dick (Queens University & Ulster)
5 JR Brady (CIYMS & Ireland)
6 JI Brennan (CIYMS & Ireland)
7 WM Patterson (Cambridge University)
8 D O’Donnell (Instonians & Ulster)
Touch Judges: TN Brownlee (Collegian) & CR Owens (Malone)
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Tickets to the Barbarians v Fiji match at Kingspan Stadium, Belfast, are priced from just £20 for adults and £12 for juniors, and are available to purchase online at www.ulsterrugby.com/buytickets or by calling the Ulster Rugby Ticket Office on (028) 9049 3222. Group bookings and hospitality packages are also available.