Stuart Barnes: Difference between revisions
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Barnes played for [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]] schools and was offered to join the Welsh squad in [[1981]] but opted for [[England national rugby union team|England]] instead. |
Barnes played for [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]] schools and was offered to join the Welsh squad in [[1981]] but opted for [[England national rugby union team|England]] instead. |
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He originally |
He originally played club rugby for [[Newport Gwent Dragon|Newport]], before transferring to [[Bristol Rugby|Bristol]]. But he left them amid much local controversy for their bitter west country rivals [[Bath Rugby|Bath]], where he arrived aged 22: ''"disaffected with England and, with my volatile character, I could easily have drifted out of the game altogether. At the time the big joke was that I'd had more clubs than [[Jack Nicklaus]] - Newport, Bristol and Bath by 22 and people doubted my character, they thought of me as being very fickle and at Bath I found what I wanted - a rugby home."'' <ref> http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s105/st74420.htm </ref>. He would later captain Bath to an English teams first League/Cup double. |
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He made his [[England national rugby union team|England]] debut in [[1984]], and also represented the [[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]] on international level. He gained only ten caps, but after being eclipsed by the overall play of [[Rob Andrew]], he played his last international match in [[1993]]. He was considered by many to be a better attacking player than his rivals and if playing in the professional era would have surely received more caps. |
He made his [[England national rugby union team|England]] debut in [[1984]], and also represented the [[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]] on international level. He gained only ten caps, but after being eclipsed by the overall play of [[Rob Andrew]], he played his last international match in [[1993]]. He was considered by many to be a better attacking player than his rivals and if playing in the professional era would have surely received more caps. |
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Revision as of 14:49, 4 October 2006
Stuart Barnes (born 22 November 1962) is a former English rugby union footballer, and now sports commentator for Sky Sports.
Barnes played fly-half for Bristol, Bath), and represented England and the British Lions on international level.
Biography
Barnes played for Wales schools and was offered to join the Welsh squad in 1981 but opted for England instead.
He originally played club rugby for Newport, before transferring to Bristol. But he left them amid much local controversy for their bitter west country rivals Bath, where he arrived aged 22: "disaffected with England and, with my volatile character, I could easily have drifted out of the game altogether. At the time the big joke was that I'd had more clubs than Jack Nicklaus - Newport, Bristol and Bath by 22 and people doubted my character, they thought of me as being very fickle and at Bath I found what I wanted - a rugby home." [1]. He would later captain Bath to an English teams first League/Cup double.
He made his England debut in 1984, and also represented the British Lions on international level. He gained only ten caps, but after being eclipsed by the overall play of Rob Andrew, he played his last international match in 1993. He was considered by many to be a better attacking player than his rivals and if playing in the professional era would have surely received more caps.
=Life after playing
Barnes resigned from the Bristol and West building society in 1993, and at the same time retired from rugby.
He became a freelance writer/reporter with both the Telegraph and the Bristol Mercury, and wrote his autobiography, entitled "Smelling of Roses" - a classic of rugby writing [2]
As the professional era commenced, Barnes became a more familiar face as a summariser and pundit on both television and radio for the BBC, before securing a permenant position on Sky Sports's coverage of the Guiness Premiership.
Personal life
Nicknamed "The Barrel", he is officially the fattest man ever in the England squad. When tested in the England team, his body fat percentage was 3% higher than that of Jeff Probyn in second place. He admits to disliking training, and as a reason why he would never be credible as a coach/why he prefers writing.
He prides himself on his devotion to Bacchus and Bob Dylan, and counts amongst his friends wine expert Keith Floyd.
References
External links
Template:England-sportbio-stub Template:RugbyUnion-stub
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