Johannesburg – A Barbarian team returns to Ellis Park on February 4 when Johan Ackermann’s Lions take on the SupaBarbarians in one of their three warm-up matches for the 2017 Super Rugby season.
Barbarian sides were in action against the former Transvaal at the same stadium, in 1958, 1982 and 1992. The warm-up matches are against the Bulls on January 28 in Harare, on February 4 against the SupaBaabaas at Ellis Park and on February 11 against the Stormers in Cape Town.
A Lions XV will travel to Zimbabwe to face the Bulls at the end of January. The Lions kick-off their Super Rugby campaign on February 25 against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
The SupaBarbarian is an extension of the SupaRugby XV team that competes in the annual Raikes Memorial against Wits annually. Eight Leopards, two Griffons and a host of top club players will form part of this invitational side.
Several players will be invited to play for the SupaBaabaa’s to give the Lions a run for their money – among them players from clubs such as Brakpan, Pretoria Police, Impala, Pirates and Raiders.
The Lions will announce their final Super Rugby squad early in February and their team camp is from February 5-8.