Read below the selection for the Barbarians team vs. Belgium. Please not that the game is rescheduled to 4pm instead of 6pm because of the Heineken Cup final.

Barbarians britanniques - Présélection
Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues et Nouvelle-Zélande), Chris Latham (Queensland Reds et Australie), Clyde Rathbone (ACT Brumbies et Australie), Mark Gerrard (ACT Brumbies et Australie), Josh Lewsey (London Wasps et Angleterre), Regan King (Llanelli Scarlets et Nouvelle-Zélande), Luke McAmister (Sale Sharks et Nouvelle-Zélande), Morgan Turinui (Waratahs et Australie), Jean de Villiers (Stormers et Afrique du Sud), Stephen Larkham (Australie), Felipe Contepomi (Leinster et Argentine), Fourie du Preez (Blue Bulls et Afrique du Sud), Ryan Powell (Worcester et Pays de Galles), Federico Puciarello (Munster et Italie), Cobus Visagie (Saracens et Afrique du Sud), Ollie Le Roux (Leinster et Afrique du Sud), Raphael Ibanez (London Wasps et France), Mark Regan (Bristol Rugby et Angleterre), Justin Harrison (Ulster et Australie), Paul Tito (Cardiff Blues), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues et Pays de Galles), Schalk Burger (Stormers et Afrique du Sud), Lawrence Dallaglio (London Wasps et Angleterre), Pierre Spies (Blue Bulls et Afrique du Sud), Sébastien Chabal (Sale Sharks et France), Scott Fava (Western Force et Australie)

http://www.sportkipik.be/articles.php?id_article=6090

The Rugby Football Union is giving everyone involved in English rugby the chance to have their say on the International Rugby Board’s proposal to introduce eight new Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) throughout the game next season.

The RFU believes that some of the ELVs could fundamentally change the nature of the game as it is currently known and that all those potentially affected by their introduction should be consulted.

The RFU has therefore launched a special consultation website www.rfusurvey.co.uk to enable all parts of the game to express their views on the ELVs and whether they should be trialled in the manner proposed.

The survey is open to players, coaches, referees and supporters and gives people chance to compare and vote on the existing law and its associated ELV before the Union formally responds to the IRB.

The questionnaire can also be accessed from the RFU website homepage at www.rfu.com and Chief Executive Francis Baron said: "We have a number of concerns about the ELVs and the proposed process that is being followed regarding their introduction."

“As these Experimental Law Variations could potentially result in major changes to the Laws of the Game, the RFU believes it is important to consult those involved in the game at every level and give them an opportunity to express their views."

"In order to discover what participants in rugby union in England actually feel and to assist us in formulating the RFU’s response to the proposed changes, the Union has compiled an online questionnaire."

“I would urge everyone with an interest in the future of our game to go to www.rfusurvey.co.uk and spend ten minutes completing the questionnaire so we can paint as accurate a picture as possible of people's views in England when the matter comes up for debate at the IRB in May."

Dear BBRFC former players,

THE BBRFC 40TH Anniversary Bash IS DEFINITELY STILL ON.

Our apologies for running a bit late with our on-line registration.

We have Golf booked on the American Course, La Tournette on Friday 26 September with tee-offs from 10:00 – 12:00 (proof of handicap required).

On the Friday evening 19:00 - 21:00 there will be a Reception at the Hotel de Ville, courtesy of the Mayor of Brussels, our own Freddy Thielemans.

There will be various Rugby games at the British School of Brussels, Tervuren on the Saturday afternoon.

A Black Tie Dinner and Dance will be held at a prominent location in central Brussels on the evening of Saturday 27 September (details are currently being finalised; our original choice of venue was already booked).

Our apologies for the delay in getting our act together here, but we have just held a successful mini-tour to Saracens in London, and we are currently involved in helping the Belgian Rugby Federation host THE BARBARIANS when they play a Belgian International XV at the King Baudouin Stadium on May 24 at the start of their summer tour, when they play Ireland and England in the following 8 days.

More details and online registration as soon as we have finalised matters.

Right, where to start?... From the meeting point in Schuman at 6 something in the morning to the arrival in London around lunch time, it’s a bit of a blur… There was something about Michelle panicking about being the only girl in the bus and ignoring her wake-up alarm, cheerleaders’ movies on TV and Simone taking a head dive into his own piss (plus that of several truck drivers) at a strategic “water-relief” stop on the highway.

The real fun begun with the kick offs with the Barbars going up against a very patched-up 2^nd amateur side of the Saracens, in a typical English weather! We felt like we hadn’t left Brussels… With the contribution of Norman “all-the-way-from-Scotland” McLeod, Nuno “Jodi” Campo and other friends who decided to drop by, the Barbars took the game by 7-38 (we’re not really sure about the score but we’re gonna go with this…) This was promptly followed by some fantastic Saracens’ hospitality in their history-charged club house (“boys, from these walls 132 years of rugby history look down upon you”). There were sausages and beans, speeches and ties, beers and golf balls! And now enters the unpredictable factor of the Tour: Etienne. Etienne is a great bus driver if you are in one of those days where you feel like getting on the road and driving aimlessly to see where it will carry you… but not when you have 50 drunken rugby players anxiously waiting for the next beer! And so a one-hour trip to the hostel turned into a 2-hour visit to the shabbiest districts of London (twice), properly accompanied by father Abraham that insisted on holding on to his tie, even with his pants down his ankles… The rest of the evening will remain unreported out of respect for the golden rule of the Tour (and to protect minors googling rugby websites for the actual sport…)

Sunday’s main activity was supposed to be the Saracens game against Leeds but no one was expecting a certain tourist’s capacity to down alcohol for 48 hours uninterruptedly, so he stole the show… Apart from the 66-7 Saracens’ win, the other faultless performance was provided by the Sensations, in particularly Jodi (even though this may no longer be her name as I heard she has shaved her head and is under a government protection programme. Nuno: stop trying to find her).

The whole tour was just phenomenal so if you are thinking you should have joined us, you’re right. Hopefully next year we’ll be paying our sister-club another visit!

The Tour Committee