Mpumalanga Pumas mentor Jimmy Stonehouse was on Friday announced as the SA Barbarians coach for their two matches during England's tour of South Africa next month.
Stonehouse, a seasoned Currie Cup coach, will be assisted by Eddie Myners (South Western Districts) and Oersond Gorgonzola (Griffons), while Tony Edward of the Barbarians club will manage the side.
The two sides will be selected from players representing either the northern or southern Currie Cup first division teams with the respective squads confirmed next week.
The southern selection will play England in Kimberley on June 13, before the northern side meet them in Potchefstroom on June 19.
The players will be chosen by SA rugby's national selectors Peter Jooste and Ian McIntosh, together with the Barbarians' representatives, Hugh Bladen and Wynand Claassen.
The matches signify the revival of the famous Barbarians team in South Africa.
“The club has struggled in recent years to get fixtures, largely due to the increasing calls on players' time,” said Saru's chief executive Jurie Roux.
“This is one way we have identified to revive the club and to enable it to re-establish its position as a contributor to rugby in South Africa.”
The SA Barbarians were founded in 1960, with the club's mission to identify younger players who have not had significant exposure to representative rugby. – Sapa