Barbarian F.C. have appointed Kingsley Jones as Assistant Coach for this summer’s Killik Cup showdown against the World XV.
Jones is current Head Coach of Canada’s national team and will work under Baa-baas Head Coach Eddie Jones for the clash at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday 28 May (kick-off: 3pm).
General admission tickets are on sale now from www.ticketmaster.co.uk at the early-bird price of just £25* for Adults and £15* for Under-16s.
A former international flanker, Jones won ten caps for Wales and captained his country once in 1998, while also enjoying club spells with Ebbw Vale, Pontypridd, Gloucester, Worcester Warriors and Doncaster Knights.
Jones has been Head Coach of Canada since 2017, and despite a distinguished coaching career which has also seen him lead Newport Gwent Dragons, Russia, Sale Sharks and Doncaster, the 53-year-old is relishing the prospect of another week within the Barbarians’ environment.
“Coaching the Barbarians is one of the highest honours in rugby,” he said. “I was lucky enough to play for the Baa-baas in 2000 – which was an incredible experience – and also coach them alongside Philippe Saint-Andre in 2010.
“So, to be part of the coaching set up again, working alongside Eddie Jones, is just amazing.
“The beauty of the Barbarians is that you get all those different players who in the past have gone toe-to-toe with each other, but are now in the same changing room – it’s so unique. There is so much respect for each other in the changing room. No one wants to lose the respect of the man next to him, and everyone brings their ‘A’ game.
“I’ve known Eddie since 2007 and I’ve always got on really well with him. He’s such an open-minded guy and I’m sure I’ll learn as much in a week as I’ve learnt in many. It’s always great to see other approaches to coaching, so I’m really excited to do it.
“It’s a great opportunity and I’m privileged, firstly to work with Eddie, but also to work with a great bunch of players.”
Jones represented Barbarian F.C. twice as a player on the side’s 2000 summer tour, facing Ireland at Lansdowne Road and then Leicester Tigers at Twickenham – both of which saw the Baa-baas emerge victorious.
He then acted as Assistant Coach to Philippe Saint-André in 2010’s 29-23 triumph over Ireland at Thomond Park, and 35-26 loss to England at Twickenham.
Jones knows that preparing the Barbarians this summer will be a serious test when the World XV – coached by All Blacks legend Steve Hansen – come to London in May. He added: “I’ve come up against Steve once before, he came out on top when Canada faced the All Blacks a few years back in the group stages of the Rugby World Cup.
“I know him pretty well from his days in Wales, and it’ll be great to see him. I’m sure that whatever the result, we’ll share a beer in the changing room after the game. He’s someone I have enormous respect for.”
The fixture against the World XV marks the first return to HQ for the Barbarians since a stunning 52-21 victory over England in June 2022, although the invitational side retained the Killik Cup in November courtesy of a 35-31 win over an All Blacks XV in front of 35,000 people at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Head Coach Eddie Jones is delighted to have Kingsley Jones on board as he bids to extend that winning run with the Killik Cup on the line.
“We’re extremely motivated to put on a great show in front of a packed house at Twickenham, embracing the values and traditions which make the Barbarians so special,” he said.
“Kingsley is a good rugby man and I’ve no doubt he’ll make a big impact on our group when the Barbarians come together again in May.”
General admission tickets for Barbarian F.C. vs World XV are on sale now from www.ticketmaster.co.uk at the early-bird price of just £25* for Adults and £15* for Under-16s.
For a 10% discount on groups of ten or more, please visit www.eticketing.co.uk/rfu/. Hospitality packages are available to purchase from £299 per person via www.twickenhamstadium.com.
*booking fees apply