The 32-year-old Leeds hooker is the solitary member of Englands tour squad for New Zealand and Australia chosen by head coach Sir Clive Woodward.

Regan, it seems certain, will start the non-cap game, just three days before England head to Auckland and their two-Test series against the All Blacks.

And his experience will be crucial to a largely untried contingent at representative level.

Woodward was unable to consider players from European champions Wasps, Bath, Leicester or Sale Sharks, all clubs with Premiership play-off commitments at Twickenham next Saturday.

And Englands sevens commitments in Bordeaux, venue for the penultimate round of this seasons world series, also took priority over Baa-baas selection.

Against such a back-drop, it is something of an achievement that Woodward has been able to find 25 players.

Although it is an inevitably inexperienced group, there are 13 players involved who will travel to Canada next month for Englands Churchill Cup campaign.

England Under-21 World Cup pair Clive Stuart-Smith and Marcel Garvey also gain an opportunity, with Garvey one of seven Gloucester players on Baa-baas duty this week.

Newcastle provide a five-strong contingent, including two regulars of the Barbarians fixture - fly-half Dave Walder and back-row forward Hugh Vyvyan.

A crowd of more than 70,000 is expected for the annual end-of-season encounter, when a star-studded Barbarians outfit will start as firm favourites.

In selecting the side to play the Barbarians I have not, apart from Mark Regan, chosen players going on the summer tour, said Woodward.

This offers many of the Churchill Cup players a huge opportunity to impress, such as Hugh Vyvyan, Dan Scarbrough and Jamie Noon.

Players like Clive Stuart-Smith and Marcel Garvey, who are taking part in the Under-21 World Cup next month, will also have a chance to step up to the mark.

Selection for sevens was given priority, and of course, players from the four Premiership clubs playing on Saturday could not be considered for Sundays game.

Woodward intends naming the starting line-up and replacements on Wednesday morning.

The Barbarians opened their three-game tour with a 40-33 victory against Scotland at Murrayfield two days ago, and they play Wales in Bristol on Wednesday night.

England squad for non-cap game against the Barbarians:
Backs: M Horak (London Irish), D Scarbrough (Leeds), J Goodridge (Gloucester), P Sackey (London Irish), M Garvey (Gloucester), M Stephenson (Newcastle), K Sorrell (Saracens), T May (Newcastle), J Noon (Newcastle), D Walder (Newcastle), C Stuart-Smith (Leeds), N Walshe (Sale Sharks).
Forwards: M Worsley (Harlequins), N Lloyd (Saracens), R Morris (Northampton), J Dawson (Harlequins), M Regan (Leeds), D Richmond (Northampton), C Fortey (Gloucester), A Brown (Gloucester), M Cornwell (Gloucester), A Hazell (Gloucester), D Hyde (Leeds), P Buxton (Gloucester), H Vyvyan (Newcastle).