Jeffrey refutes Baa-baas takeover rumour

John Jeffrey, the Scottish member of the Barbarians committee and former international flanker, has hit out at the suggestions that Premier Rugby Limited (PRL) is to take over the famous invitation side.

It was suggested in reports yesterday that PRL, the body representing England's top flight clubs, wants to take over the Barbarians name and reduce the world-famous invitational team down to a select team of English Premiership players only.

This team would then play one of the touring teams, a match which would be a cash cow, but an extra fixture to an already crowded list.

"The clubs think there is a lot they could bring to a Barbarians set-up," said PRL chief executive Mark McCafferty.

"A selection of quality players playing in the Premiership turning out in a Barbarians game is an attractive concept.

"The Barbarians are a rugby club, but the rights to the Barbarians name are not owned by a single party.

"We think the prospect of a Premiership Barbarians side playing fixtures could be an attractive proposition from a supporter's point of view."

But Jeffrey has insisted the constitution of the Barbarians will remain the same and refuted any odea of English ownership of the brand.

"There have been discussions with English clubs through the PRL but no final agreement has yet been reached," said Jeffrey in The Scotsman.

"However, what I can say is that there is no threat to the future of the Barbarians and there is no way that the Barbarians would become owned and run by the English Premier clubs.

"The fixtures with Scotland and England planned for May next year are not in any doubt and we hope the Baa-Baas squad will feature the usual exciting mix of Southern Hemisphere and Northern Hemisphere talent."