Wales 28-31 Barbarians, Millennium Stadium, June 4
Mason tipped to succeed in union
ESPNscrum Staff
June 5, 2011
Barbarians centre Willie Mason offloads, Wales v Barbarians, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, June 4, 2011
Willie Mason set up two tries in the Barbarians' win over Wales © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Willie Mason | Dai Young
Tournaments/Tours: Top 14 Orange
Teams: Barbarians | Toulon

Barbarians coach Dai Young has tipped Willie Mason to make the most of his recent switch to rugby union.

The 31-year-old, a former Australia international in the 13-man-code, set up two tries in the Barbarians' 31-28 victory over Wales on Saturday, only his second game of union at elite level.

The centre will join Toulon next season, having left Super League club Hull KR due to passport confusion, and Young believes that he has the physicality to make an impact.

"Obviously he is coming from a league background and if you look at the two tries they were typical league tries where you are running across people's faces and you get in the big right-hand offload," he said.

"It's a big call to step up and play rugby union at the age of 31 but he certainly has the physicality, there is no doubt about that. He has the aptitude in both attack and defence and it's just a matter of learning the game.

"You could see how excited he was just to get on the field, he sprinted on the field and he had a big part in that final 15 minutes or so."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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