Sarah Levy stars as Barbarians set attendance world record

USA Eagles winger Sarah Levy scored a hat trick as the Barbarians defeated a Springbok Women XV 60-5 at Twickenham on Saturday afternoon. The contest set a new world record attendance mark for a women’s rugby match with 29,581 on hand in London to witness the entertaining spectacle.

It was initially to be played after the Men’s Barbarians match against a Manu Samoa XV, but six members of the Barbarians group tested positive for COVID-19 resulting in the game’s cancellation. This is the second time positive tests within the Barbarians camp has caused the cancellation of a fixture, with last October’s match against England also scrapped.

Levy started the scoring for the invitational side on the end of a cross-kick from former England flyhalf Katy Daley-McLean. She would score a second from a turnover before halftime, and grabbed a third just short of the hour mark. Despite her exploits it was Daley-McLean who took Player of the Game honors.

There were six North American players starting for the Barbarians. Canadian forwards Laura Russell and Karen Paquin joined three other USA internationals in prop Hope Rogers, second row Alycia Washington, and fullback Bulou Mataitoga.

The Barbarians would score 10 tries in all with the South African side’s only score coming from replacement Ayanda Malinga late in the game. There were nine nations represented in the invitational side with other players coming from Ireland, France, Scotland, Spain, Wales, and New Zealand.

 

SCORING

BARBARIANS 19
Tries – S. Levy 3, K. Daly-McLean, L. Corson, R. Lloyd, N. Hunt, L. Peat, S. Pam, C. Griffin
Cons – K. Daly-McLean 5

SPRINGBOK XV 5
Tries – A. Malinga

 

TEAMS

BARBARIANS
1 Lindsay Peat, 2 Laura Russell, 3 Hope Rogers, 4 Alycia Washington, 5 Lénaïg Corson, 6 Ciara Griffin, 7 Karen Paquin, 8 Anna Caplice, 9 Natasha Hunt (capt.), 10 Katy Daley-McLean, 11 Sarah Levy, 12 Jenny Murphy, 13 Sene Naoupu, 14 Rhona Lloyd, 15 Bulou Mataitoga

Replacements: 16 Isabel Rico Vázquez, 17 Rochelle Clark, 18 Simi Pam, 19 Sonia Green, 20 Beth Dainton, 21 Sammy Wong, 22 Morgane Peyronnet, 23 Katie Mason

SPRINGBOK WOMEN XV
1 Asithandile Ntoyanto, 2 Micke Gunter, 3 Babalwa Latsha, 4 Nolusindiso Booi (capt.), 5 Rights Mkhari, 6 Lusanda Dumke, 7 Catha Jacobs, 8 Sizophila Solontsi, 9 Unam Tose, 10 Zenay Jordaan, 11 Simamkele Namba, 12 Chumisa Qawe, 13 Jakkie Cilliers, 14 Nomawethu Mabenge, 15 Eloise Webb

Replacements: 16 Lindelwa Gwala, 17 Sanelisiwe Charlie, 18 Monica Mazibukwana, 19 Lerato Makua, 20 Sinazo Mcatshulwa, 21 Rumandi Potgieter, 22 Ayanda Malinga, 23 Donelle Snyders

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy)
Assistants: Sara Cox (England) & Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy)

 

Attendance: 29,581