Barkley, who has not played at all for almost a month, is in Woodward's starting line-up for today's game with British Columbia in Vancouver.
Frustrated at his lack of first-team chances at Bath, Barkley travelled to New Zealand in the autumn and had been playing for the Marist club in Christchurch when he was picked for England's tour of North America.
He said: 'Bath weren't too happy when I went to New Zealand but they were understanding and helped me out a lot.'
Barkley, a good enough soccer player to have a trial with Arsenal, could now even figure in Woodward's Test plans.
Inevitably he has been compared with Wilkinson, the England fly half currently on Lions' duty, and Woodward said: 'We threw Jonny in at the deep end and I have no qualms about what we are asking Olly to do.'
Barkley will partner Leeds' Scott Benton at half back, with another Headingley man, lock Tom Palmer, also included despite not having played a Premiership game.
