Gareth Edwards scored the most famous try in the long and illustrious history of the Barbarians © Getty Images

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Teams: Cardiff Blues | Harlequins | New Zealand

1890
The Barbarians played their first ever game, defeating Hartlepool Rovers 9-4 at the Friarage Field in Hartlepool.

The Barbarian Club, formed by William Percy Carpmael, had been a part of the Cambridge University side which had toured Yorkshire six years previously. After embarking on a number of off-season Tours in the intervening period, the concept of the Barbarians - an invitational outfit drawing on players from numerous clubs - was decided upon at a meeting in the Leuchters Restaurant at the Alexandra hotel in Bradford on April 9, 1890.

After that first outing on December 27 of the same year, the Barbarians brand - in no doubt aided by the motto "Rugby Football is a game for gentlemen in all classes, but for no bad sportsman in any class" and their love of open, attacking rugby - quickly generated interest and affection from all over Britain.

They Baa-Baas, as they would become known, initially played just six annual encounters,: Penarth, Cardiff, Swansea and Newport during their Easter Tour; a Boxing Day game with Leicester and the Mobbs Memorial Match against East Midlands in the spring. However, in 1948, they were invited to face Australia as part of the Wallabies' tour of Britain, Ireland and France and a game against the Baa-Baas quickly became popular amongst touring sides.

The Baa-Baas had gone international and their status as an iconic sporting outfit was cemented by their now legendary 23-11 victory over the All Blacks at Cardiff Arms Park on January 27, 1973, a game which featured one of the greatest tries of all time, scored by Gareth Edwards.

1895
The Baa-Baas routed South Shields 27-5 in the second of their three-match tour of the North-East.

1919
Newport recorded a stunning 19-0 victory over the Baa-Baas at Rodney Parade. It was a shock result at the time but it would be later put into context by the fact that 12 members of the Newport side went on to represent Wales.

1920
Cardiff claimed a nail-biting 6-5 victory over the Barbarians in an absorbing fixture in the Welsh capital. This would be the last time that the fixture would take place during the festive period as it was subsequently moved to Easter.

1943
The Dominions beat a London Clubs XV 13-9 in a Christmas holiday match at Richmond. The victors' side was made up solely of airmen from the RAAF and RNZAF, while the losers picked from a pool of University and medical students.

1947
The BBC decides to broadcast live the second half of the Richmond-Harlequins game from the Athletic Ground. Richmond completed a double over their rivals by following up their earlier-season win at Twickenham with a 12-3 triumph.