Cornish Pirates

Lock forward Heino Senekal was a star performer under the floodlights of Blackheath's Rectory Field ground last evening, when he proudly made his debut for the Barbarians.

The match, organised as part of the host club's 150th year celebrations and played in front of a crowd of about 2,500, was an entertaining and high-scoring affair, which the Barbarians won 57-45.

Besides Heino, other internationals in the invitation team's line-up included Kevin Morgan (Wales), Nick Walshe (England) and Gordon Bulloch (Scotland). Former Wales full-back Mike Rayer, who is nowadays Director of Rugby at Bedford Blues, coached the side.

Heino, who is the first Namibean international to play for the Baa-Baas, is also the third Pirate this season to represent the famous club, Rhodri McAtee and Rhys Jones played for them against the Combined Services in the Annual Remembrance Day rugby match played at Plymouth Albion RFC's Brickfields ground in November.

The history of the Barbarians is an interesting one, it a unique club - the most revered rugby touring club in the game's history, and one that from its beginning had a resolute commitment to attacking rugby.

William Percy 'Tottie' Carpmael, who founded the club and played for Blackheath, had a firm belief that those invited to join him on short tours should share his enthusiasm for hard, clean, attacking rugby, besides also being good company both on and off the field.

The concept of the Barbarians was agreed upon at the Alexandra Hotel, Bradford, on the 9th April, 1890, and later that year, on the 27th December, they beat Hartlepool Rovers 9-4 in the first match played.

The Baa-Baas, as they are nicknamed, have no ground, no clubhouse, and therefore play no 'home' matches. However, for much of its history the club did have a 'spiritual' home in South Wales, where there was an annual Easter tour.

Their base was firstly the Esplanade Hotel, Penarth, before the Royal Hotel, Cardiff, became their headquarters. For many years there were six annual fixtures - the Easter tour matches against Penarth, Cardiff, Swansea and Newport, as well as a Boxing Day fixture against Leicester and a springtime game against the East Midlands in the Mobbs Memorial Match.

Other games are also played, as was the case in September, 1983, when the Barbarians played Cornwall at Redruth, which was one of the highlights in the county's centenary season.

In addition, of course, since 1948 the Barbarians have been honoured to play all the major international touring sides that have visited the British Isles - it offering their opponents 'The Final Challenge' before returning home.

The Barbarians play in traditional black and white hooped shirts, but the players socks are those they wear for their individual clubs.

Being asked to become a Barbarian is an honour and not one restricted to British players. Traditionally one uncapped player is selected for each match in major fixtures played, and once invited a player becomes a life member of the club.

Many of the world's best have represented the Barbarians over the years, including Tony O'Reilly who made 30 appearances and scored 38 tries for them (1955-62).

Others of repute who have played more than 20 matches include Budge Rogers, Ron Jacobs and John Spencer - plus Phil Bennett who starred in that unforgettable match played and won (23-11) against New Zealand at Cardiff Arms Park in 1973. As for 'the try' scored that day, it perhaps the most famous ever witnessed, commentator Cliff Morgan described it thus:

Kirkpatrick to Williams. This is great stuff! Phil Bennett covering chased by Alistair Scown. Brilliant, oh, that's brilliant! John Williams, Bryan Williams, Pullin. John Dawes, great dummy. To David, Tom David, the half-way line! Brilliant by Quinnell. This is Gareth Edwards! A dramatic start! What a score!!

It was indeed special, and no try could better exemplify the Barbarians spirit.

The first 'Pirate' (as the old Penzance RFC players were also nicknamed ) to play for the Barbarians was Barrie Bennetts, who went on the Easter tour to Wales in 1909. In total, Barrie played for the Barbarians on nine occasions, England twice, and he also toured Argentina with the British team in 1910.

John McGregor Kendall-Carpenter was the next Pirate to play for the Barbarians back in 1948-49, followed by John 'Ginger' Williams (1950-51), Jimmy Glover (1967-68), and 'Stack' Stevens (1969-70).

John McGregor Kendall-Carpenter	John 'Ginger' Williams
Jimmy Glover	'Stack' Stevens

Rhodri McAtee and Matt Evans played last season, and, as mentioned, Rhodri and Rhys Jones represented them back in November.. Another son of Penzance, Mike Luke, played for the Barbarians (1979-80), but was that time captain of Canada. However, as Mike himself once stated "Once a Pirates, always a Pirate!", as it proudly is if you're a Barbarian!