Wales men and women will face the Barbarians in a double-header at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, in June as part of their summer international schedule.
The men’s match will begin at 14:00 BST on Saturday, 27 June, followed by the women’s fixture at 17:00. Both games are expected to be uncapped.
Twickenham chosen as neutral venue
The fixtures will be treated as away matches for Wales, with the Principality Stadium unavailable due to non-rugby events.
Metallica are scheduled to perform in Cardiff on 28 June, forcing Wales to stage the matches in London.
Memories of last Barbarians clash
Wales last played the Barbarians in November 2023, winning 49-26 in Cardiff.
The match marked farewell appearances for Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Leigh Halfpenny, making it a memorable occasion for Welsh fans.
Men’s team prepares for Nations Championship
The men’s squad will use the match as preparation for the inaugural Nations Championship in July.
Wales are set to face Fiji, Argentina and South Africa over consecutive weeks, with the South Africa match confirmed for 18 July in Durban.
“Playing against the Barbarians is always a very special occasion,” said head coach Steve Tandy.
“They play with freedom and creativity and bring together some of the best players in the world.”
Women’s side targets WXV campaign
The women’s team will complete their Six Nations campaign in May before turning focus to the WXV Global Series in September and October.
Head coach Sean Lynn welcomed the opportunity to play at Twickenham.
“The Baa-baas are a key part of rugby’s culture and history,” he said.
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to play them at the home of rugby.”
Uncapped matches offer experimentation
With both fixtures likely to be uncapped, coaches are expected to test new combinations and young players.
The matches will allow Wales to balance preparation with performance ahead of major international competitions later in the year.
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