Rugby sock honour for Baa Baa Banners

Matt Banahan, pictured wearing Bath socks while in action for Jersey in the veterans? Nash Cup last season, is on course to be the first person to wear Jersey socks while playing for Barbarians FC Picture: ROB CURRIE

MATT BANAHAN admits he is excited to claim one of the few rugby shirts that have eluded him this weekend, when he steps out for Barbarians FC at The Rec.

The 35-year-old will be achieving a career-long dream on Sunday, having been called up to play for the prestigious exhibition club against his former employers.

Former England cap Banahan is set to feature alongside the likes of Mike Brown, Luther Burrell and former Springbok Francois Hougaard against Bath – and he will be donning Jersey socks to celebrate the occasion.

The Barbarians, an invitational side with a 130-year history, wear a black-and-white hooped kit but players wear socks from their home club.

‘It will be really special,’ said Banahan, who made over 260 appearances for Bath between 2006-2018, before moving to Gloucester.

‘I had a great three years at Gloucester, but it will be even better to come back and play at The Rec, in front of my family and friends, for one last time. I’ll be going out to try and win it, but I’ll also be saying thanks to the fans.’

Banahan, who sits seventh on the Premiership’s all-time list of try-scorers, took to Twitter to discuss which socks he would wear (right), but the former Les Quennevais School student said there was little doubt in his mind.

‘I chucked it out there to see what people thought,’ he explained. ‘I could represent Bath, as that’s where I spent most of my time, but to be the first person to wear the Jersey socks will be a great achievement. My mum’s bringing some over for me to wear.’

He added: ‘I said I didn’t want to play again after retiring but recently I’ve been asked to play in a few veterans’ games and sponsorship games, trying to get more involvement in the sport.

‘When I retired there were no Baa Baas games that year so when I saw they were playing Bath and the opportunity came up to play for them … I just thought “I didn’t retire injured and it’s a chance to play back at Bath”.

‘It has always been a goal of mine, to play for them, and other than the Lions it’s pretty much the only shirt I don’t have. I remember playing against them in 2009 and after the game I asked Doug Howlett [former All Black] if we could swap shirts, but he said no because he only got given one and he wanted to keep it.

‘Everyone has been pushing me to get involved and I’ve kept myself fit. I’ve been going to the gym harder over the last month but no matter what, it’s going to feel like a pre-season game for a lot of players. I just hope that when my lungs drop out, the drop out later than someone else. Over he years I was always the first to pull out of the pre-season fitness tests.’

A Babarians XV played, and beat an All Blacks XV at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, featuring the likes of England prop Joe Marler and former New Zealand back-rower Luke Whitelock.

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