Ireland centre Bundee Aki to captain Barbarians against England

Connacht and Ireland centre Bundee Aki will captain the Barbarians when they face England on May 27, live on Sky Sports Action.

Aki helped Ireland clinch a Six Nations Grand Slam with victory over England at Twickenham on St Patrick's Day and has been selected as skipper by former coach Pat Lam, who takes charge of the Baa-Baas.

"I'd like to thank Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt for making Bundee available to us as he'll be a big asset for the Barbarians," said Lam, who is now in charge at Bristol.

"The big thing about Bundee is that he's an unbelievable competitor. A lot of the Pacific Island boys have that X-factor but he loves putting his head in the dark places and thriving in turnover and contact work.

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"He's a huge leader on the field and he has a great understanding and passion for the way I like the team to play.

"England is a game we're going to have to work hard in and he epitomises what we need to do.

"We need the courage to play and move the ball and also to know when we have to tighten things up, and he'll be at the centre of that."

All Blacks John Afoa, Luke McAlister, Charles Piutau and Victor Vito have been called up by Lam, along with Scotland scrum-half Greig Laidlaw and Ireland duo Ultan Dillane and Niyi Adeolokun.

Barbarians squad

Forwards: John Afoa, Ultan Dillane, Ramiro Herrera, Benjamin Kayser, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Sateki Timani, Justin Tipuric, Loni Uhila, Flip van der Merwe, Victor Vito.

Backs: Niyi Adeolokun, Bundee Aki, Greig Laidlaw, Luke McAlister, AJ McGinty, Charles Piutau, Rhodri Williams.