Barbarians: The History

Tuesday 07th August 2001

One of the great, and most evocative sides in rugby, Baa-Baas President Micky Steele-Bodger explains the ethos behind the famous invitational side ...

The Barbarian club is a concept conceived by W P Carpmael late one evening in 1890 in Leuchters Restaurant in Bradford. At a time when practically every club ceased playing in early March he decided to collect a touring side from all sources; to tackle a few leading clubs in the land. His idea instantly received support from the best players of the day.

Carpmael's great idea that the Barbarian Club should be absolutely cosmopolitan, with the aim of spreading good-fellowship amongst all rugby football players has been rigidly adhered to by those who have followed him in the management of the club. Today this support is as strong as ever in spite of the fact that many clubs have their own tours and that the commitment demanded from the top players with Club, League, Cup, Divisional and International squads increases annually.

Membership of the club is by invitation and the only qualifications considered when issuing an invitation are; that the player's football is of a good enough standard and secondly that he should behave himself on and off the field. There is no discrimination whatsoever by race, colour or creed.

Of the 2,800 or so members all are judged to have been worthy of upholding the Barbarian motto instituted by the Right Reverend W.J. Carey (former Bishop of Bloemfontein and an original member) which is: "Rugby Football is a game for gentlemen in all classes, but for no bad sportsman in any class".

Players from different clubs and countries rarely have the opportunity of playing on the same side, they are always opponents, and the chance of now and again playing with, instead of against, one another is welcomed now, as it was 110 years ago. To date the club has invited players from 22 nations and over 350 clubs to wear the famous black and white hooped jersey. The club has also visited 19 countries on tour or for the occasional Sevens tournament.

Many players have considered an invitation to play for the Barbarians to be one of the highest honours in the game. It is a position that the club cherishes and will work to ensure that players in the future continue to have the opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie and good rugby for which the club is rightly famous.

by Micky Steele-Bodger
President, Barbarian FC