John Dobson lands Barbarians coaching gig against All Blacks XV

Dobson will team up with Bristol Bears Director of Rugby Pat Lam to coach the coveted group for a match against the All Blacks XV at Brentford Community Stadium on 1 November.  

"It's a huge honour to be joining the Barbarians for this match against the All Blacks XV," said Dobson.

"I was only a few years old when my dad started replaying the famous 1973 game between the BaaBaas and New Zealand for me to watch, and growing up in South Africa - where we're known for playing a traditional, physical style of rugby - the BaaBaas have always been the zenith of how rugby should be played.

"They play beautiful rugby, and the team has a mysticism about it in South Africa. It is very special, so for me to be involved now is brilliant.

"I am really looking forward to working with Pat, too. I watched what he did with Connacht, and now Bristol Bears are always one of the teams we look at, in terms of how they play and how they set up their attack.

"We have a similar mindset at the Stormers; we always want to entertain. So, working with Pat and the Barbarians, given how we all approach the game, it should be a match made in heaven.

"Professional rugby can feel very serious at times. I think it's important to treat everybody fantastically, have a lot of fun, and connect – and if you do that, it can trump the technical and physical stuff.

"That's what the Barbarians always do; they come together against teams that have been together for a long time and do something extraordinary."

The Stormers face Benetton in Italy in the United Rugby Championship on 25 October, after which they have a five-week break.

The Barbarians have faced the All Blacks XV just once before, where they edged the men from down south 35-31 in London in 2022.