Rambo is going to play for the barbarians

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No, not Sly Stalone, but one of the many nicknames that Mike Phillips has picked up on various online rugby forums such as Rugby Rebels.

That’s right, Mike Phillips will be playing for the Barbarians against New Zealand on December 5th. Now as an Ospreys fan that is a bit of a worry to me, Spikey Mike (see, another nickname) is vital to our game plan (and the Welsh rugby one) and risking him in an exhibition game vs a hard hitting side like New Zealand is, well, risky! But the Baabaas are a team I have always enjoyed and it often annoys me how the tradition has slowly faded away. I used to love going along to St Helens to watch them play Swansea when I was a kid.

But then look at the recent injury to Ian Evans to see how playing players in non-essential games can come back to bite you in the arse.

Mike Phillips though is certainly excited about it, he had this to say

“The game will be my debut for the Barbarians, and it is such an honour to be asked to play,” said Phillips.

“When I look back at the names that have worn the shirt before me, it’s incredible – a ‘who’s who’ of international rugby.

“It’s fantastic that the tradition of the Barbarians is still going strong in the professional era, you only need to look at the squad for this game versus the All Blacks on December 5th to see how highly regarded the club is.”

Phillips added: “I’m really looking forward being on the same team as Fourie, he’s such an exceptional player. That’s one of the beauties of Barbarians rugby, you get the chance to play with players that you’d only normally expect to play against.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to give each other a few tips now that the Lions series is over!”

Should be a good game when you look at who’s involved. Let us just hope that Mike doesn’t get injured.

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