All Blacks to meet Barbarians in UK

The All Blacks will play the Barbarians at Twickenham on December 5. Photo / Getty Images

The All Blacks will resume one of their celebrity fixtures against the Barbarians to push their schedule into December and a possible 15 games this season.

The match, on December 5 at Twickenham, was announced yesterday, after a five-year lull since the sides last met, when the All Blacks triumphed 47-19.

All Black captain Richie McCaw, who played for the Barbarians against the Wallabies last December, said it was always a special occasion when the All Blacks lined up against them.

"Matches like this are rare and there is such a long tradition of contests between the All Blacks and the Barbarians it's going to be huge for the team," he said.

The All Blacks start their nine test domestic and Tri-Nations schedule against France in Dunedin on June 13 and are expected to begin their end-of-year tour against Japan in Tokyo at the end of October, followed by a test against Wales.

Neither of those internationals has been confirmed but the other tests are against Italy in Milan on November 14, then successive weekend clashes with England, France then the Barbarians.