The Barbarians are a touring club side that famously has ‘no ground, no club-house, no entry fee, no subscription and virtually no money’. They were formed by William Percy ‘Tottie’ Carpmael, a Cambridge Blue and Blackheath player, in April 1890 and undertook its first formal tour (to the north of England) at Christmas 1890.
During their very first season, the club wore a skull and crossbones badge, just as Cardiff had done in its first season of 1876/77. And, as with Cardiff, this monogram was ditched after only one season to be replaced with the now famous BFC monogram. In 1895 a club tie was introduced. It was presented to the club by Frank Mitchell, being the colours of a cricket side which he took to the United States in 1895. This consisted of the colours dark blue and light blue in equal widths with a narrow white stripe between.
Its spiritual home in later years became the Esplanade Hotel in Penarth, at which the side was based for its annual Easter tour of South Wales that featured games against Penarth, Cardiff, Swansea and Newport. Two other regular matches were played during this period, against Leicester on Boxing Day and the Mobbs Memorial match against the East Midlands each spring.
From 1948, the Barbarians were also the traditional opponents in the final match of tours by New Zealand, South Africa and Australia, all of whom have been defeated by the wandering team at the Arms Park. The first of these matches, against Australia, was played to help raise funds to enable the tourists to return home via Canada. The most famous of these wins was perhaps the 23-11 victory over the All Blacks in 1973 which featured the incredible opening try by Cardiff’s Sir Gareth Edwards and end-to-end attacking rugby. Many other Cardiff greats have also appeared in the Barbarians famous black and white hoops.
Cardiff first played the Baa-Baas on March 31st, 1891 and continued to do so (playing twice a season before the Great War) until the advent of the professional era when putting out full-strength teams for either side became something of a lottery.
It is therefore hugely fitting that in Cardiff’s 150th season, the Barbarians will face the Blue and Blacks once more on the hallowed turf of the Arms Park.
During their very first season, the club wore a skull and crossbones badge, just as Cardiff had done in its first season of 1876/77. And, as with Cardiff, this monogram was ditched after only one season to be replaced with the now famous BFC monogram. In 1895 a club tie was introduced. It was presented to the club by Frank Mitchell, being the colours of a cricket side which he took to the United States in 1895. This consisted of the colours dark blue and light blue in equal widths with a narrow white stripe between.
Its spiritual home in later years became the Esplanade Hotel in Penarth, at which the side was based for its annual Easter tour of South Wales that featured games against Penarth, Cardiff, Swansea and Newport. Two other regular matches were played during this period, against Leicester on Boxing Day and the Mobbs Memorial match against the East Midlands each spring.
From 1948, the Barbarians were also the traditional opponents in the final match of tours by New Zealand, South Africa and Australia, all of whom have been defeated by the wandering team at the Arms Park. The first of these matches, against Australia, was played to help raise funds to enable the tourists to return home via Canada. The most famous of these wins was perhaps the 23-11 victory over the All Blacks in 1973 which featured the incredible opening try by Cardiff’s Sir Gareth Edwards and end-to-end attacking rugby. Many other Cardiff greats have also appeared in the Barbarians famous black and white hoops.
Cardiff first played the Baa-Baas on March 31st, 1891 and continued to do so (playing twice a season before the Great War) until the advent of the professional era when putting out full-strength teams for either side became something of a lottery.
It is therefore hugely fitting that in Cardiff’s 150th season, the Barbarians will face the Blue and Blacks once more on the hallowed turf of the Arms Park.