The Cardiff Blues’ director of rugby, whose side are currently top seeds for the quarter-finals of this season’s Heineken Cup after their against-the-odds victory at Gloucester on sunday, will be in charge of coaching when the Barbarians play England and Australia in the summer.
Last May Young was the Baa-Baas’ coach when they played Belgium, Ireland and England, and he is looking forward to being at the helm again in five months’ time.
He said, “I thoroughly enjoyed last summer’s tour and I feel honoured to be invited a second time to lead the coaching in what promises to be a real challenge for the club. To play England at Twickenham and then fly to Sydney to take on the full Wallabies’ side is a unique itinerary even for the Barbarians but I welcome the opportunity to again work at international level.”
As a British & Irish Lion, Young toured Australia in 1989 and 2001 as well as South Africa in 1997 and became the first player to represent the British Isles in three different decades.
Barbarians’ committeeman Mike Burton said, “Our invitation to David to return so quickly and coach our squad on such a high profile tour says everything about the high regard in which we and many others hold him. He impressed us hugely last summer and after his great work with Cardiff Blues is increasingly in demand but we are delighted that he is able to accept the invitation to come with us again.”
The Barbarians are finalising details for an opening tour fixture on Tuesday 26 May before proceeding to London to play England on 30 May and then Australia at Sydney Football Stadium on 6 June.
