The Barbarians are set to face Wales in a historic double-header in Cardiff later this year.
The Welsh Rugby Union are finalising plans to start the Wayne Pivac era with a men’s fixture against the world’s most famous invitation team at the Principality Stadium, pencilled in for November 30.
And on the same day and at the same venue Wales are poised to take on the Baa-Baas in a women’s international.
It will be the first time for such a double bill involving the Barbarians to take place in Wales.
The fixtures and the date haven’t been confirmed as negotiations are continuing with broadcasters. The men’s game will “definitely” be televised live, according to sources, while talks are ongoing over the women’s match.
Whatever, it promises to be quite some day, allowing Wales Women to show what they can do on the big stage and giving Wales’ men a challenge with a difference, with Warren Gatland lined up to lead the Barbarians against his Wales coaching successor.
The last time Gatland coached against Wales, it didn’t end well for the team in red, with Ireland handing out a 36-6 hiding in Cardiff 18 years ago.
But fellow New Zealander Pivac will be keen to start his reign on the right note ahead of the serious stuff that arrives with the start of the 2020 Six Nations.
Fresh faces available to the new Wales coach for the Barbarians game include Johnny McNicholl and Willis Halaholo, both of whom complete residence qualifications this autumn.
McNicholl has just completed an outstanding league season with the Scarlets, beating more defenders than anyone else and finishing in the top five performers in five other statistical categories, with his tally of 11 tries bettered by only one other player over the campaign.
The 129-year-old Barbarians club launched their women's team in 2017-18.
They started life with victories over Munster and the British Army and played their first international earlier this year, beating USA Eagles 34-33 in April, helped by four tries from Wales wing Jasmine Joyce on her Baa-Baas debut.
This weekend, the Barbarians Women will taken on England ahead of the men's encounter at Twickenham.
A 74,500 sell-out will be expected in Cardiff for the Barbarians games.
