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Page last updated at 15:46 GMT, Thursday, 27 May 2010 16:46 UK

Uncapped Welsh hooker Ken Owens wins Barbarians call

ENGLAND v BARBARIANS
Venue: Twickenham Date: Sunday, 30 May Kick-off: 1700 BST
Coverage: Score updates on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sport online. Live on Sky


Ken Owens
Uncapped Welsh hooker Ken Owens has played regularly for the Scarlets

Scarlets hooker Ken Owens has been called into the Barbarians squad to face England at Twickenham.

The uncapped Welsh front-rower has been released from Warren Gatland's squad to join fellow countryman Martyn Williams in the Barbarians squad for Sunday.

Coach Philippe Saint-Andre has asked Xavier Rush to captain the Baa-Baas days after being beaten by the Kiwi.

Rush played a key role in Cardiff Blues' win over Saint-Andre's Toulon in Sunday's Amlin Challenge Cup final.

The inspirational New Zealander will be joined by Blues team-mates Casey Laulala and flanker Williams in Saint-Andre's squad.

Experienced Williams has been rested from Wales' summer squad to face world champions South Africa in Cardiff on 5 June and tour New Zealand.

Five members of Toulouse's Heineken Cup-winning squad are in Saint-Andre's squad.

All Blacks scrum-half Byron Kelleher joins Toulouse team-mate Jean-Baptiste Ellisalde at half-back.

New Zealand flanker Rodney So'oialo starts alongside Rush in the back row while George Smith is on the bench after jetting in from Australia.

The Barbarians side includes former England trio Paul Sackey, Julian White and Ben Kay.


Barbarians team to play England at Twickenham on Sunday:
P Warwick (Munster); P Sackey (Wasps), C Laulala (Cardiff Blues), F Fritz (Toulouse), C Heymans (Toulouse); J-B Elissalde (Toulouse), B Kelleher (Toulouse); R Roncero (Stade Francais), B August (Biarritz), J White (Leicester), R Skeate (Toulon), B Kay (Leicester), R So'oialo (Hurricanes), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), X Rush (Cardiff Blues, captain).
Replacements: K Owens (Scarlets), C Johnston (Toulouse), J Thion (Biarritz), G Smith (ACT Brumbies), P Mignoni (Toulon), F Estebanez (Brive).



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see also
Wilkinson fit to face Australia
26 May 10 |  Rugby Union
Hodgson returns to England side
26 May 10 |  English
Hape will be England hit - Paul
14 Jan 10 |  English
Ashton & Hape earn England calls
13 Jan 10 |  English


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