Stuart Barnes

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For the English cricketer, see Stuart Barnes (cricketer). For the Australian poet, see Stuart Barnes (poet).

Stuart Barnes
Stuart Barnes.JPG
Date of birth (1962-11-22) 22 November 1962 (age 58)
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Weight86 kg (13 st 8 lb)[1]
SchoolBassaleg School
UniversitySt Edmund Hall, University of Oxford
Occupation(s)Sports Commentator
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1980–1983
1983–1985
1985–1994		 Newport RFC
Bristol
Bath		 ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1984–1993
1993		 England
British and Irish Lions		 10
0		 (34)
(0)

Stuart Barnes (born 22 November 1962 in Grays, Essex)[2] is a former English rugby union footballer, and now rugby commentator for Sky Sports. Barnes played fly-half for Newport RFC, Bristol, Bath; and represented England at international level.

Biography[]

Although born in Essex, he played his schoolboy international rugby for Wales Schools.[3]

Such was his speed and talent, he made the leap from the U15s to the U19s after one season, and became an ever-present (he didn't miss a schools international for four years between 1976 & 1980), also captaining the team on several occasions.

Barnes studied at St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford, where he won three rugby Blues.[citation needed] He played for Oxford against Cambridge University's Rob Andrew in the Varsity match.[4] He graduated from Oxford with a third-class honours degree in history.[5]

Club career[]

While at University, Barnes played club rugby for Newport RFC. He matriculated in 1981.[6]

Barnes later played for Bristol, including in the 1984 RFU final against Bath Rugby. After being on the losing side for Bristol in that final, he was to join Bath.[7]

He arrived at Bath 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.".[8]

International career[]

Barnes made his England debut against Australia in November 1984. He gained ten caps for England and played his last international match in 1993 against Ireland.[2]

Barnes played for the Barbarians against Wales in October 1990, converting three tries in the Barbarians victory.[9]

Life after playing[]

Barnes' last game was the Bath versus Leicester Pilkington Cup Final on 7 May 1994, which Bath won 21–9. He resigned from the Bristol and West building society shortly afterwards. Barnes became a freelance writer and reporter for the Telegraph, and wrote his autobiography Smelling of Roses.[8]

He later became involved in broadcasting, firstly with the BBC,[3] and then joined Sky Sports in 1994.[4]

Personal life[]

He was nicknamed The Bath Barrel.[10]

References[]

  1. ^ http://www.lionsrugby.com/history/players.php?player=15355&includeref=dynamic
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Stuart Barnes: England". Sporting Heroes. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Stuart Barnes". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Varsity magazine 25 November 2005 (see page 19)" (PDF). Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  5. ^ Glover, Tim (7 November 2004). "Stuart Barnes: The voice of rugby says 'I've watched every minute of every match'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
  6. ^ "Notable Alumni – St Edmund Hall". www.seh.ox.ac.uk.
  7. ^ "The Eighties". History. Bath Rugby Official Site. Archived from the original on 21 October 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "BathRugbyEre.co.uk – ERE Met Stuart Barnes In January 1994". Sportnetwork.net. 1 January 2006. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  9. ^ "Wales v Barbarians: Full record". BBC. 12 July 2010. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  10. ^ "BathRugbyEre.co.uk – Leinster Snatch Victory From Bath". Sportnetwork.net. 9 January 2005. Retrieved 4 September 2011.

External links[]

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