Warrick Gelant has already lifted the Webb Ellis Cup. He’s played in Super Rugby finals, worn the Springbok jersey 10 times, and shared a dressing room with some of the most dominant forwards in the modern game. But this Saturday, when he pulls on the black-and-white hoops of the Barbarians, he’ll be chasing something entirely different — and it involves playing against the very teammates who helped him win a world title.
The 31-year-old fullback is set to make his debut for the famous invitational side against South Africa at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha. It’s a lineup that reads like a fantasy rugby draft: All Blacks legend TJ Perenara, Fiji’s Virimi Vakatawa, Scotland’s Duhan van der Merwe, Wallabies speedster Andrew Kellaway, and England prop Kyle Sinckler. But for Gelant, the most meaningful matchup will be the one across the scrum — against the Boks he trained with day in and day out.
‘Every Player’s Dream’ — But With a Twist
Speaking to the Barbarians’ official website, Gelant didn’t hide his excitement. It’s every player’s dream to play in a Barbarians team, playing with guys you play against or see on TV,
he said. The Barbarians is about implementing the fundamentals of the game, getting that enjoyment back and doing all the things that made you fall in love with the game.
For Gelant, that joy is amplified by a reunion. He attended Outeniqua High School alongside van der Merwe, and the two were part of the Blue Bulls system before their careers — and national allegiances — split them apart. Van der Merwe went on to represent Scotland at test level, while Gelant stayed in South Africa and eventually won a World Cup. I thought maybe we would get a chance to play together but we never got it,
Gelant said. He’s obviously playing for Scotland now so the dream was down the drain — but then I saw he was also coming here. It’s special.
That personal thread adds a layer of emotional weight to what is already a high-stakes exhibition. The Barbarians have long been about style over substance, but Gelant and his teammates are treating this as more than a glorified friendly.
A ‘Big Challenge’ Against the World’s Best
Despite the relaxed ethos of the Baa-Baas, Gelant acknowledged the scale of the task. There is no average player at the Springboks,
he said. They are the best in the world so going up against them is going to be a big challenge for all of us. It’s not often that you can play against the world champs if you are South African.
The Barbarians will be coached by a star-studded staff featuring Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi and former All Blacks boss Scott Robertson, alongside Racing 92’s Patrice Collazo and Los Pumas assistant Kenny Lynn. Gelant described Robertson as open, so down to earth,
adding that the coaching environment has been about sharing ideas rather than imposing tactics. You learn open-fire ideas when you are on the road. You share ideas and that’s something I can take back myself but also to the Stormers and the younger guys. It’s IP you can share with the world,
he said.
For Gelant, the game is as much about responsibility as it is about freedom. The game will require always three things (in attack). It’s running, passing or kicking,
he explained. It’s just what do you want to do in a given moment and do you have enough responsibility with the decision you’re going to make.
Saturday’s clash pits a team that has been together for a few days against a machine that has spent years building systems and trust. But the Barbarians have something else: a star-studded roster and a group of professionals, as Gelant put it, who have pride in themselves, that have played at the highest level for a long time.
The result may be unpredictable. But the story — a World Cup winner stepping onto the pitch against his own countrymen, with a childhood friend by his side — is already set.
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