Steelform Wanganui legend Peter Rowe has been handed yet another tremendous honour with the news that he will officially be the vice captain of the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians as they kick off the British & Irish Lions tomorrow night in Whangarei.
Despite being the reserve loose forward in ateam of Mitre 10 Cup players, with the Barbarians having a late reshuffle last week when several of the original squad were called up for Super Rugby, Rowe will still be the secondary leader behind Otago hooker Sam Anderson-Heather.
It raises the possibility that Rowe could well become the acting captain should he enter the match and Anderson-Heather be substituted after a gruelling tussle with the Lions front row.
Rowe could also achieve another dream of facing the great Welshman Sam Warburton, who will captain the Lions from openside flanker.
Provincial Barbarians coach Clayton McMillan was pleased how his squad, made up of 14 provinces, has come together.
"When we first looked at putting together a squad, the initial process was around understanding what sort of game we wanted to play and the type of player that would meet the profile of that game plan.
"We've kept things relatively simple with the emphasis on creating an environment where the players can express themselves and represent their provinces with pride."
The Wanganui Chronicle hopes to have an interview with Peter Rowe in Saturday's paper.
