Cape Town: Stormers teammates Warrick Gelant and Oliver Kebble have joined the Barbarians ahead of Saturday’s non-cap international against the Springboks in Gqeberha, giving the invitational side two players with direct knowledge of South African rugby and the reigning world champions. The Barbarians prepared at UCT’s Green Mile this week before travelling to Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, where their international squad will open the Springboks’ 2026 season on 20th of June.
The Barbarians have strengthened their squad with two familiar Stormers figures as preparations intensify for Saturday’s meeting with the Springboks at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Fullback Warrick Gelant was among the invitational side’s recent additions before Stormers teammate and Scotland international Oliver Kebble joined the squad during its Cape Town training camp. Kebble took part in a session at UCT’s Green Mile, giving the famous touring team a local preparation base before the players travel to Gqeberha.
The Stormers Barbarians Springbok clash connection adds a distinctive Cape Town element to the opening fixture of the national team’s season. Gelant and Kebble know the structures, physical demands and tactical habits of South African rugby, while both bring international experience to a squad assembled from clubs and national teams around the world.
Gelant is an 11-cap Springbok and a member of South Africa’s 2019 Rugby World Cup-winning squad. Although his most recent Test appearance came against Australia in August 2022, he has remained an important part of the Stormers’ backline and also spent time with Racing 92 in France.
The 31-year-old said he did not regard the Barbarians fixture as an audition for a return to the Springbok squad. His priority, he explained, was to represent the invitational side according to its traditions and enjoy the opportunity to play alongside leading international players.
Gelant said treating the match primarily as a personal trial would undermine the experience of representing the Barbarians. The team’s appeal lies in bringing together opponents from different rugby cultures and allowing them to exchange ideas before playing an expressive, attacking style.
The match also offers Gelant an unusual reunion with South African-born Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe. The pair attended Outeniqua High School and played together before their professional careers took them in different directions.
Gelant said they had once expected to play together after both joined the Bulls system, but the opportunity never materialised. Van der Merwe later moved overseas and established himself as a Scotland international, making the Barbarians reunion particularly significant for the former school teammates.
Kebble Answers Another Barbarians Call
Kebble joined the squad after receiving the invitation while having lunch with his father, former Springbok prop Guy Kebble.
The 33-year-old Stormers loosehead has earned 12 Test caps for Scotland and will make his third appearance with the Barbarians. His previous experience of the invitational environment gives the squad a player who understands how quickly combinations must be created when athletes from different countries and clubs come together.
Kebble described a Barbarians call-up as a rare privilege because international and club commitments often make players unavailable. He said sharing a team room with leading performers from around the world remained a special experience, even for established professionals.
Saturday will mark the first occasion on which Kebble faces the Springboks while representing the Barbarians. Although his family and club connections are deeply rooted in South African rugby, his international career with Scotland means he enters the fixture with experience of competing against several members of the Bok squad at Test and club level.
The prop believes the pressure will sit largely with the Springboks. The Barbarians are assembled for a single fixture and can approach the contest without the long-term selection consequences attached to a national team.
That freedom does not mean the squad will treat the match casually. Gelant said the Barbarians would need to balance attacking expression with the hard work and individual responsibilities required to compete against the world champions.
International Experience Across The Squad
The Barbarians squad contains experienced players from New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Uruguay, Scotland and other major rugby nations.
Former All Blacks vice-captain TJ Perenara brings 89 Test caps and extensive experience at scrumhalf. Australian back Andrew Kellaway adds 49 Wallaby appearances, while Argentine flyhalf Tomás Albornoz and Uruguay scrumhalf Santiago Arata strengthen the halfback options.
The group also includes Van der Merwe, Alex Nankivell, D’Arcy Rae and Liam McConnell. The final combinations will require the coaching staff to blend players accustomed to different attacking systems, defensive structures and terminology within a limited preparation period.
Former All Blacks coach Scott Robertson and Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi lead the coaching team. Their involvement adds further interest because both are known for encouraging creative attacking rugby while demanding strong organisation and accurate execution.
Gelant said working with Robertson and Contepomi provided lessons he could take back to the Stormers and share with younger players. The Barbarians environment allows established coaches and players to exchange tactical knowledge without the restrictions normally created by club and international rivalries.
A Serious Test For The Springboks
The Springboks will use the fixture to open a demanding 2026 season before beginning their inaugural Nations Championship campaign against England at Ellis Park two weeks later.
Although the match against the Barbarians is classified as a non-cap international, it gives Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus an opportunity to assess combinations and provide players with meaningful match exposure before the formal Test programme begins.
The Barbarians remain difficult opponents to prepare for because their playing style is influenced by the individuals selected for each fixture. Their ability to attack from unexpected positions can punish defensive errors, while the presence of experienced internationals ensures that the team possesses more than entertainment value.
Gelant acknowledged that the Springboks have few obvious weaknesses. He said the Barbarians would need to perform their roles accurately and combine the traditional flair of the invitational side with the physical effort required to challenge South Africa.
The fixture is also the second consecutive season in which the Springboks face the Barbarians at home. SA Rugby confirmed that Saturday’s match will be played at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on 20th of June.
Why The Barbarians Remain Special
The Barbarians do not represent a country, province or permanent professional competition. Players are invited from different parts of the rugby world for selected fixtures, creating teams that may never appear together again.
The club’s identity is built around attacking rugby, sportsmanship and the exchange of ideas between players who would ordinarily compete against one another.
Invitations carry considerable prestige because they recognise a player’s reputation, character and ability to contribute to the group within a short preparation period.
The traditional Barbarians approach also places responsibility on players. Creativity is encouraged, but the team still needs functioning set pieces, defensive organisation and enough discipline to remain competitive against an established national side.
For Gelant and Kebble, the week provides an opportunity to represent the Stormers’ rugby community on a different stage while testing themselves against players they know well from South African competition and international camps.
Cape Town Preparation Before Gqeberha
The training sessions at UCT’s Green Mile allowed the squad to assemble, begin building combinations and prepare in South African conditions before travelling to the Eastern Cape.
The Cape Town camp also gave Gelant and Kebble familiar surroundings during the early stages of preparation. However, the limited time available means the squad must establish its key calls, attacking patterns and defensive responsibilities rapidly.
Unlike a provincial or national team that trains together throughout a season, the Barbarians must rely heavily on player experience and clear communication.
That challenge forms part of the team’s appeal. The fixture will test whether a group of international individuals can develop enough cohesion within days to challenge the settled systems of the Springboks.
Match Details
Fixture: Springboks v Barbarians
Date: Saturday, 20th of June
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
Status: Non-cap international
The Springbok fixture will be preceded by South Africa A’s match against Zimbabwe as part of the Gqeberha rugby double-header.
Supporters should confirm final match times, ticket availability and stadium information through the official Springbok match centre and authorised ticketing channels.
Q&A
Which Stormers players joined the Barbarians?
Warrick Gelant and Oliver Kebble joined the Barbarians squad preparing to face the Springboks.
Where did the Barbarians train?
The squad held a training session at UCT’s Green Mile in Cape Town.
When will the Barbarians play the Springboks?
The match takes place on Saturday, 20th of June.
Where will the match be played?
The fixture will be staged at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.
Is the match an official Test?
No. It is classified as a non-cap international, meaning players do not receive official Test caps for appearing.
Has Warrick Gelant played for the Springboks?
Yes. Gelant has earned 11 Springbok caps and was part of South Africa’s 2019 Rugby World Cup-winning squad.
Which country does Oliver Kebble represent internationally?
Kebble represents Scotland and has earned 12 Test caps.
Has Kebble played for the Barbarians before?
Yes. This is his third involvement with the invitational club.
Who coaches the Barbarians squad?
Former All Blacks coach Scott Robertson and Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi lead the coaching team.
Which other international players are involved?
The squad includes Duhan van der Merwe, TJ Perenara, Andrew Kellaway, Tomás Albornoz, Santiago Arata and other international players.
Why is the match important for the Springboks?
It provides valuable preparation and match exposure before South Africa begins its formal 2026 international programme.
SAI Search Summary
Stormers players Warrick Gelant and Oliver Kebble have joined the Barbarians ahead of Saturday’s non-cap international against the Springboks at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha. The Barbarians trained at UCT’s Green Mile in Cape Town before travelling to the Eastern Cape. Gelant is an 11-cap Springbok, while Kebble has represented Scotland 12 times and is making his third Barbarians appearance. Scott Robertson and Felipe Contepomi coach a squad containing TJ Perenara, Duhan van der Merwe, Andrew Kellaway and other international stars. The match opens the Springboks’ 2026 season.
Source: Rugby365 – Jan de Koning and Angus Opperman; SA Rugby
