Wales V Barbarians Classics -1990

(At Cardiff Arms Park).

The Barbarians’ centenary was celebrated in a match that saw Wales surprisingly award caps. But, it ended in a surprise defeat for Wales, who led 24-19 after a fifth penalty from captain and full back Paul Thorburn.

Then, the uncapped All Black Eric Rush in his original position as a flanker, scored a try and the former Bassaleg and Wales Schools outside half Stuart Barnes converted, with England centre Jerry Guscott adding a further try.

Statisticians noted that Thorburn’s 21 points was a Wales record and that eight Neath players began the match and a ninth – replacemnt Adrian Davies – came on in a side selected by coach Ron Waldron, also of Neath.

Davies replaced Mark Ring, later his clubmate at Cardiff, and won his first cap, while Fred Howard was the referee for the third successive time in a Wales international match.

This was a strong Barbarian side with David Campese at full back and his fellow countryman Nick Farr-Jones leading the team from scrum half.

WALES: P Thorburn (capt); S Ford, M Ring (A Davies), S Parfitt, A Edmunds; D Evans, C Bridges; Brian Williams (P Knight), K Phillips, M Griffiths, Glyn Llewellyn, P Arnold, M Morris, M Jones,R Webster.

Try: P Thorburn. Con: Thorburn. Pens: Thorburn 5. DG: D Evans.

BARBARIANS: D Campese; JB Lafond, J Stanley, J Guscott, D Charvet; S Barnes, N Farr-Jones (capt); P Rendall, S Smith, R Loe, S Cutler, I Jones, M Teague, D Erbani, E Rush.

Tries: J Stanley, N Farr-Jones, E Rush, J Guscott. Cons: S Barnes 3. Pens: Barnes 3.

Referee: F Howard (England).