Tim Visser’s spectacular season is to end on yet another high note after the Edinburgh winger was today named in the Barbarians squad for their match against England at Twickenham on Sunday (kick-off 2.30pm).
Visser, who will become eligible for Scotland selection next summer, stands to team up with such stars of the modern game as Doug Howlett, Ruan Pienaar, Carl Hayman, Matthieu Bastareaud, George Smith, Martyn Williams and Sergio Parisse, as well as rugby league powerhouse Willie Mason who will join Toulon next season.
The 23-year-old’s selection is reward for his outstanding, and compellingly consistent, try-scoring prowess in two years with the capital club.
Visser’s first full campaign in the professional game (2010/11), saw him top the Magners League scoring charts, voted the competition’s Young Player of the Season and selected for its Dream Team.
This year, meanwhile, the former Newcastle Falcons man broke the record for the most individual tries in a Magners League season, made the Dream Team once again and was on the shortlist for the tournament’s Players’ Player of the Season.
He recently committed the prime years of his career to Edinburgh, signing a two-year contract extension that will keep him in EH12 until at least the end of May 2013.
Visser today declared himself “thrilled” to have received the Barbarians call-up, and vowed to “honour the traditions” of the famous black and white hooped jersey, which he will wear in tandem with his Edinburgh socks.
He continued: “It’s a fantastic privilege to be selected in the squad: you only have to look at the calibre of the names in the group to know how much of an honour this is.
“It’s really inspiring to think about the players who have worn that shirt and the great achievements they recorded in the game.
“When you’re growing up and learning about the sport, playing for the Barbarians is one of the things you dream about, so to think it might actually happen this weekend is exciting beyond belief.
“I’d like to thank the players and coaches at Edinburgh who have made me feel so welcome over the last two years – the fact I feel so at home at the club and with how we play the game has been a big part of the good run of form I’ve enjoyed.”
Michael Bradley, the new Edinburgh head coach, offered his own congratulations to Visser, saying the call-up was “just reward” for his efforts in the Magners League and Heineken Cup.
The former Ireland captain confirmed: “Tim has established a great reputation across the European game as a man with a terrific eye for the try-line and a very positive attitude to his rugby.
“We’re extremely happy to have secured his services for the next couple of seasons, and I’m thoroughly looking forward to working with him to ensure he keeps getting better and better.”
Visser has earned further plaudits from John Jeffrey, the 1990 Grand Slam-winning back-row forward who is now the Scottish selector on the Barbarians committee.
Jeffrey, who represented the club on eight occasions and led them into their 150th anniversary match against Edinburgh Academicals in 2008 as coach, said: “I’m delighted that Tim has been chosen to represent the world-famous Barbarians.
“Tim is exactly the type of player who epitomises the Barbarian tradition in that he is fast, exciting and adventurous. It is welcome recognition for his form with Edinburgh over the last two Magners League campaigns and I look forward to seeing him continue his try-scoring feats in the black and white hoops of the Barbarians.”
Full Barbarians squad: Backs - Benoit Baby (Clermont Auvergne), Mathieu Bastareaud (Stade Francais), Doug Howlett (Munster), Brock James (Clermont Auvergne), Nicolas Jeanjean (Brive), Willie Mason (Toulon), Frederic Michalak (Toulouse), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster), Seru Rabini (La Rochelle), Paul Sackey (Toulon), Sebastien Tillous-Borde (Castres Olympique), Tim Visser (Edinburgh)
Forwards - Sebastien Bruno (Toulon), Quintin Geldenhuys (Aironi), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Benetton Treviso), Carl Hayman (Toulon), Davit Kubriashvili (Toulon), Erik Lund (Biarritz), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais), Salvatore Perugini (Aironi), George Smith (Toulon), Iosefa Tekori (Castres Olympique), Iestyn Thomas (Scarlets), Paul Tito (Cardiff Blues), Joe van Niekerk (Toulon), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues)
Coaches: David Young, Scott Johnson
Visser’s next involvement with Edinburgh is likely to come in the pre-season friendly matches against Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park on Friday 19 August (kick-off 7.45pm) and Newcastle Falcons at Murrayfield on Friday 26 August (kick-off 7.30pm)
SIGN UP FOR NEW PERSPECTIVES IN SEASON 2011/12
It’s a whole new ball game for Edinburgh fans in season 2011/12, as supporters get closer to the on-field action with seating in the east stand and new pitch-side standing areas.
The price of adult (£180) and student/senior citizen (£90) season tickets has been held, while under-18s will pay just £35 to watch the best in Magners League and Heineken Cup rugby.
Buy before 30 June and you could win a hospitality package for ten people at one of our home European matches next season (Terms and Conditions apply).
For more information on the benefits of being an Edinburgh season ticket holder, and to book in for the campaign under new head coach Michael Bradley, click HERE, call 0131 346 5180 or visit the Murrayfield Ticket Centre (just off Roseburn Street) in person.
