Barbarians confirm tour plans

Spreading the Word: The Barbarians will return to Twickenham in June

The Barbarians have confirmed that they will play Belgium in Brussels, Ireland at Gloucester and England at Twickenham in 2008.

The Ireland fixture takes place on Tuesday, May 27 at Kingsholm.

There had been speculation suggesting Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground would have staged the match, which will serve as a warm-up for Ireland prior to their June tour of New Zealand and Australia.

"This is a new departure for us, but a very interesting one," said Barbarians president Micky Steele-Bodger.

"Ireland were keen to add a fixture in Europe to their own summer tour before travelling on to New Zealand and Australia," he said.

"With Lansdowne Road and Thomond Park still under redevelopment, we are playing at one of the traditional hotbeds of rugby union in the west of England.

"Kingsholm was an obvious choice, and one that we are sure will prove to be a great success for both players and fans."

The Barbarians have played Ireland on two previous occasions in 1996 and 2000, and they will be defending an unbeaten record against them.

The three-match itinerary will begin at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels on Saturday 24 May when the Barbarians will play a Belgium International XV.

The fixture is the latest in a series of ground-breaking matches in recent seasons.

The club - famed for spreading the 'gospel of rugby' - has visited the likes of Germany, Portugal, Russia, Georgia, Tunisia and Spain in an effort to help increase the profile of the game.

Cardiff Blues' coach Dai Young will coach what will no doubt be another star-studded Barbarians' squad on the tour.

Fixtures 2008:

Tuesday 18 March: v Bedford at Goldington Road (Mobbs Memorial Match)

Wednesday 9 April: v Edinburgh Academicals at Raeburn Place (150th Anniversary Match)

Saturday 24 May: v Belgium International XV at Heysel Stadium, Brussels

Tuesday 27 May: v Ireland at Kingsholm, Gloucester

Sunday 1 June: v England at Twickenham