New Zealand Barbarians
A New Zealand invitational rugby union club known for assembling representative sides of prominent players for tours and showcase matches.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The New Zealand Barbarians, formally New Zealand Barbarian Rugby Club Inc. and commonly called the Baa-Baas, are an invitational rugby union club based at Eden Park in Auckland. The club was established in 1937 by former All Blacks Ronald Bush and Hubert McLean, drawing inspiration from the independent, invitation-based model of Barbarian F.C. Its teams have traditionally been assembled for special fixtures, overseas tours, representative matches and development opportunities rather than operating as a conventional club competing through a regular domestic league season. The club's first recorded match followed its formation: Bush and McLean captained the side against Auckland in 1938. Over time, the New Zealand Barbarians became a vehicle for bringing together leading provincial players, established All Blacks, emerging internationals and, on some occasions, players eligible to represent other national unions. This flexible selection model gave the club a distinctive place in New Zealand rugby. Its matches could serve as celebration games, trials, touring events or high-profile exhibition fixtures, with squads varying considerably according to player availability and the purpose of each engagement. The most prominent historical tour was the club's 50th-jubilee trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland in March 1987. The 22-player party included 13 All Blacks and six future All Blacks, and completed an unbeaten five-match schedule. The Barbarians defeated Leicester, Wanderers of Dublin, Ballymena and Cornwall before producing a particularly emphatic 68–16 victory over the Barbarians at Cardiff. The tour took place shortly before the first Rugby World Cup and followed a turbulent period in New Zealand rugby, giving the trip additional representative significance. The club returned to Britain in 1996 for fixtures associated with the English Rugby Football Union's 125th-anniversary celebrations. Coached by John Hart and captained by Sean Fitzpatrick, a squad containing 19 All Blacks and four future All Blacks defeated the North of England 86–0 in a snow-affected match at Huddersfield and then beat England 34–19 at Twickenham. A later 2003 tour was organized in a more festival-like setting after the Rugby World Cup, but contractual restrictions and the demands of the European club season made it difficult to assemble a comparable side; England won 42–17 at Twickenham. The New Zealand Barbarians have also participated in domestic representative activity. The side was selected for an All Blacks trial in place of the Possibles XV, and specialist teams were created for particular formats or weight categories. In 2009, a New Zealand Barbarians under-85-kilogram team toured Australia and won both matches. A middleweight Barbarian team was selected in 2011 for a four-game program. The senior side met the Māori All Blacks at Okara Park in 2010, losing 37–31 before a crowd of approximately 9,000, and returned to defeat the Māori All Blacks 34–17 in 2015. A New Zealand Barbarians or Provincial Barbarians squad was also associated with the British & Irish Lions' 2017 tour of New Zealand. The club's visual identity is simple and strongly associated with the broader Barbarian rugby tradition: scarlet-red jerseys, white shorts and a white leaping-lamb emblem. Its value lies less in a commercial product portfolio than in its role as a sporting platform. The Barbarians name signals attacking, social and representative rugby, while the invitation structure allows the organization to create one-off combinations that would not normally appear in provincial or international competition.
History
The New Zealand Barbarians were founded in 1937 by former All Blacks Ronald Bush and Hubert McLean. Their concept was influenced by Barbarian F.C., the celebrated invitational rugby organization whose teams were built around fellowship, attacking play and the temporary combination of players from different clubs. The New Zealand club's first match took place against Auckland in 1938, with Bush and McLean serving as captains. Rather than functioning primarily as a standard club in a year-round league, the New Zealand Barbarians developed as a representative organization. Its squads could be selected for tours, commemorative events, special fixtures, trials and development programs. The invitation-based structure enabled the club to gather leading players from New Zealand provinces and, when appropriate, players with international experience or eligibility elsewhere. As a result, the importance and composition of the team varied from event to event. The club's most celebrated undertaking was its 1987 50th-jubilee tour to the United Kingdom and Ireland. The 22-player party contained 13 All Blacks and six players who would later earn All Black caps. In five matches the side remained unbeaten, defeating Leicester 33–3, Wanderers of Dublin 34–3, Ballymena 29–4 and Cornwall 63–9. The tour concluded with a 68–16 win over the Barbarians in Cardiff. It came shortly before the inaugural Rugby World Cup and during a period when New Zealand rugby was dealing with the aftermath of the Cavaliers tour to South Africa, the so-called Baby Blacks tests, the return of Cavaliers players to the national setup and the Battle of Nantes. The club's tour therefore combined celebration with a highly representative gathering of New Zealand talent. A further United Kingdom tour took place in 1996 as part of celebrations for the English Rugby Football Union's 125th anniversary. John Hart coached a 24-man squad captained by Sean Fitzpatrick. The side defeated the North of England 86–0 in snowy conditions at Huddersfield and then overcame England 34–19 at Twickenham. The squad included 19 All Blacks and four future All Blacks, making the tour one of the strongest representative assemblies in the club's history. The 2003 tour was less dominant. Played at Twickenham as a festival-style fixture following England's recent Rugby World Cup success, it was affected by the European club calendar and difficulties securing the release of contracted players. The New Zealand Barbarians were consequently unable to field a side as strong as those of 1987 or 1996, and England won 42–17. The organization also experimented with different representative formats. The New Zealand Barbarians were selected for an All Blacks trial in place of the Possibles XV. In 2009, an under-85-kilogram team toured Australia and won both of its matches. A middleweight side was selected for four games in 2011. The senior team played the Māori All Blacks at Okara Park in 2010, losing 37–31 in front of around 9,000 spectators, before defeating them 34–17 in 2015. A Provincial Barbarians squad was also part of the rugby program surrounding the British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand in 2017. The club's identity is marked by scarlet-red playing jerseys, white shorts and a white leaping-lamb emblem. These elements echo the wider Barbarian tradition while distinguishing the New Zealand organization. The club's continuing relevance comes from its ability to stage distinctive representative rugby and create temporary teams that connect elite, provincial, developmental and international players.
- 2017
Provincial Barbarians and British & Irish Lions tour
[1]A Provincial Barbarians squad was associated with the British & Irish Lions tour program in New Zealand.
- 2015
Victory over Māori All Blacks
[1]The New Zealand Barbarians defeated the Māori All Blacks 34–17.
- 2010
Match against Māori All Blacks
[1]The Māori All Blacks won 37–31 at Okara Park before a crowd of approximately 9,000.
- 2009
Under-85-kilogram Australian tour
[1]The New Zealand Barbarians under-85-kilogram team toured Australia and won both matches.
- 2003
Twickenham festival fixture
[1]England beat the New Zealand Barbarians 42–17 in a match affected by player-release and club-scheduling constraints.
- 1996
Second major United Kingdom tour
[1]The Barbarians defeated the North of England 86–0 and England 34–19 during the ERFU's 125th-anniversary celebrations.
- 1987
50th-jubilee United Kingdom and Ireland tour
[1]The club completed an unbeaten five-match tour featuring victories over Leicester, Wanderers, Ballymena, Cornwall and the Barbarians in Cardiff.
- 1938
First recorded match
[1]The newly formed side played Auckland, with Bush and McLean captaining the first game.
- 1937
Club founded
[1]Former All Blacks Ronald Bush and Hubert McLean founded the New Zealand Barbarians, inspired by the model of Barbarian F.C.
Products and positioning
An invitational and representative rugby institution that brings together high-level New Zealand and international players for tours, commemorative fixtures, trials, development matches and showcase games.
Invitational rugby union team · 1937
New Zealand Barbarians senior team
The club's principal representative side, assembled from selected New Zealand and international players for special fixtures, tours, trials and showcase matches. Its composition is not fixed and may include established All Blacks, provincial standouts, future internationals and players associated with other national unions.
Development rugby team · 2009
New Zealand Barbarians under-85-kilogram team
A specialist weight-category representative team created for developmental and touring rugby. The side toured Australia in 2009 and won both of its matches.
Development rugby team · 2011
New Zealand Barbarians middleweight team
A middleweight Barbarian side selected in 2011 for a four-match program, illustrating the club's willingness to operate representative teams outside its primary senior format.
Marketing campaigns
- 2003Twickenham festival tour
England
A post-World Cup fixture intended as a festival occasion, played while club commitments limited the availability of potential New Zealand selections.
Outcome. England won 42–17.
- 1996ERFU 125th-anniversary tour
England
The club participated in celebrations of the English Rugby Football Union's 125th anniversary, playing the North of England and England.
Outcome. Won 86–0 against the North of England and 34–19 against England.
- 198750th Jubilee Tour
United Kingdom · Ireland
A five-match anniversary tour featuring a 22-player party with 13 All Blacks and six future All Blacks. The team won every match, including a 68–16 result against the Barbarians in Cardiff.
Outcome. Completed unbeaten with five wins.
Brand decisions
2011
Selection of a middleweight Barbarian teamStrategyBackground
The club continued using specialist representative formats to create additional playing opportunities.
Action taken
A middleweight side was selected for four matches.
Aftermath
The available reference material does not document further outcomes.
2009
Creation of an under-85-kilogram touring sideStrategyBackground
The club expanded its representative model beyond the main senior invitational team.
Action taken
A New Zealand Barbarians under-85-kilogram team was selected to tour Australia.
Aftermath
The team won both of its matches on tour.
Recent events
- 2017
Provincial Barbarians squad named for British & Irish Lions tour fixture[1]
Other
A Provincial Barbarians squad was associated with the British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand, with Clayton McMillan identified as head coach.
- 2015
New Zealand Barbarians defeat Māori All Blacks[1]
Other
The New Zealand Barbarians recorded a 34–17 victory over the Māori All Blacks.
- 2011
New Zealand Barbarians select middleweight team[1]
Other
The club selected a middleweight Barbarian side for a four-match program, extending its representative activities beyond the conventional senior invitational team.
- 2010
Māori All Blacks narrowly beat New Zealand Barbarians[1]
Other
The Māori All Blacks defeated the New Zealand Barbarians 37–31 at Okara Park before a reported crowd of 9,000.
- 2009
New Zealand Barbarians under-85-kilogram team tours Australia[1]
Other
A specialist New Zealand Barbarians team toured Australia and won both of its matches.
- 2003
England defeat New Zealand Barbarians in 2003 festival match[1]
Other
England won 42–17 at Twickenham in a match staged after the Rugby World Cup. Club-release and scheduling issues prevented the New Zealand side from assembling a squad comparable with earlier touring teams.
- 1996
New Zealand Barbarians defeat England at Twickenham[1]
Other
A squad led by captain Sean Fitzpatrick and coached by John Hart beat England 34–19 after an 86–0 win over the North of England.
- 1987
New Zealand Barbarians complete unbeaten 50th-jubilee tour[1]
Other · Campaign
The club marked its 50th anniversary with a five-match tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland, winning every fixture, including a 68–16 victory over the Barbarians in Cardiff.
Sources2 sources
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