FEATURE – GRASS ROOTS RUGBY – DAN BARNES

Following on in our series on players that have been part of the grass roots community rugby within Berkshire. With the reduced Championship coming to a conclusion we thought we would speak to Dan Barnes who during the pandemic moved to live and ply his trade on the island of Jersey for “Jersey Reds” in the Greene King Championship.

With the conclusion of the Greene King Championship this month I took some time to talk to Dan Barnes who made a move to Jersey Reds just before lockdown and is plying his trade from the island. I caught up with him and had a really interesting and open chat about all things including school, sports football, rugby, business and him starting out in “Grass Roots” rugby and his progress through Premiership Academies, key influences, best players he played with/against etc.

Dan, so when did you first start playing rugby, did you start in Minis?

DB: Most people assume that I started playing Minis rugby but no I only started playing rugby aged 14. I had played rugby at school (The Forest School) but my friend from school (Cameron Leigh) got me to go along to Reading RFC where several of my school team also played.

Oh, so you did not play at a club until 14. What was your main sport then?

DB: I was a footballer. I played both in the school team as well as being on the books of Reading FC in their Academy . Our school team was very strong and we made it to the ESFA (English Schools Football Association) Cup Nationals Final (U14) where we played at Old Trafford (which was special).

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So how did your rugby progress?

DB: I played at Reading RFC and then went to Berkshire county U15 trials in the same year and also progressed into the London Irish DPP programme playing in the centre. During my next season at U16 I continued to play rugby at Reading RFC and eventually dropped the weekend football (having played for Winnersh Rangers as a junior) as the rugby family for me was much more enjoyable with great friends and camaraderie.

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What is your previous, current and preferred playing position?
DB: I always played at centre but as I also kick I have and continue to play at flyhalf when required.

“… Andrea Masi had such a positive influence on me both on and off the pitch…”

Dan Barnes
Jersey Reds

So once you made the decision to focus on rugby what happened next?

DB: I initially trialled for the London Irish AASE Academy but was not successful but was then invited to trial for the Wasps AASE Academy (based at Henley College). I was successful and accepted a place along with other players I knew Jack Wilson and Craig Parker. (London Irish did actually find a place for me after I was accepted but I had committed so declined). I studied for a BTEC in Sport and compared to school the focus in the first year was a real challenge. I was a regular starter and also progressed into the full Wasp Academy squad while Wasps were still located at their London Twyford Avenue (London) ground. I played a few games there and I managed to play a few more games for Reading RFC Colts during this time when I could as the standard was still good.

So I know that you were signed by Wasps at the end of Year 13, what was it like moving from Wasps AASE Rugby (Henley College) Academy into the Wasps Senior Academy?

DB: It was a real step up. I was signed alongside Alex Harrison, Tom Howe, Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas (now Bedford) , Louis Clayton-Molloy and Ben Obano (now Bath Rugby & England) into the senior academy. I of course had played Academy rugby with them in the past season so I knew these guys. But now, instead of being at Henley College we now trained at Twyford Avenue (Wasps ground in London) four times a week. We were training with the 1st XV and if there were players injured we would step into the training squad for specific aspects of training. In our first year we were loaned out to various sides. I was loaned out to Chinnor RFC (who were in National 2 at the time).

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Above: Jack Cooper – Reading FC (now Millwall FC) & Dan Barnes – Wasps RFC (now Jersey Reds) visiting Forest School after both signing professional contracts) with their PE teachers.

So how did your first the season end at Wasps Rugby?
I suppose this is when I received my first NO. There was a new coach at Wasps (not the one who had been instrumental in signing me) and after 8/9 months I was asked (with several other players) to attend a (short) meeting. In this meeting I was simply told “we can pay you out of your remaining contract OR you can train on your own until the end of the season…” Of course I was devastated as there was no inkling beforehand. (What was interesting is that I later heard that many other senior academy boys were also let go in similar circumstances with one being offered an unpaid contract if he wanted to stay on).

So was there not a transition process to help you find other clubs or University place?
No, as I say several of us were called in for a 1:1 meeting (aged 19) and told we were not required and then simply given option of “you can train by yourself until the end of the season” OR “we can pay you out of your contract and you can leave today”. I was shocked to say the least as we were not given real options and so as I was playing at Chinnor I simply reflected and turned up to train for the forthcoming weekends game. What made it even more more frustrating was that in the same week (although I found out not connected) I was also dropped from the match day 1st XV squad (by the coach at Chinnor) which had more of an impact as this was the team I was playing regularly for. Looking back I suppose it was one of my worst weeks in rugby.

Wow, so a real shock to the system, how did you progress?

DB: Well I finished the season playing for Chinnor but it did have an impact on me. For the next season I played for Henley in National 2 and also played also for Berkshire Un20’s (who I also captained) in the U20 county championship.

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What was it like playing Berkshire U20 county rugby?
To be fair it was a strange season at first as we struggled to come together initially and were almost eliminated, but managed to make the playoffs. We then played away at Devon and managed to secure a good win and from there made the boys really clicked and we got all the way to the final at Twickenham. For me and the boys this was a great period and particularly after some of the experiences I had at the academy it was a really positive time for my rugby.

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After the culmination of the season and the Berkshire U20 success I joined Rams Rugby for the next season while I focused on getting my education and rugby pathway back on track. There were also some successes as the team won the Div 3 title and moved to National Div 2. I was also given the captains armband during my time there.

I then moved to St Marys University and it was there that I started to find myself again and a renewed love for the game.

Who was your role model of key influencer that made a difference during this time?
No doubt during this time it was Andrea Masi who had such a positive influence on me both on and off the pitch. As a group of players we really enjoyed our University rugby and were successful. It was while I was playing for the University team that I was approached by Rosslyn Park (who were in National Division 1) and invited to trial. As I was keen to get my rugby back on track I trialled and was then offered a contract to sign for them.

So what was it like playing National Division 1 Rugby?
I was put straight into the first team at the beginning of the season and was a step up to the Nat 2 rugby I had played at Henley and Rams. I as a regular starter and with my university course going well my first season was a real positive one.

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So how did London Scottish (Championship Rugby) come about?
Compared to how it was a “downer” to be dropped from the Wasps Senior Academy this was a clear turning point . I had been playing and enjoying my rugby at Rosslyn Park. Post Christmas (before the end of season transfer deadline) I was approached and asked to trial for London Scottish (Championship) who had watched me while at Rosslyn Park (where I was on a part-time/matchday only contract).

Due to some internal issues I was not able to transfer or be loaned out before the cut off period and so stayed with Rosslyn Park until the end of the season but to be fair to London Scottish they came back for me in the summer and I made the move to the Greene King Championship.

I signed for London Scottish and played in the Championship for the full (2018/2019) season. We played pre-season friendlies against Edinburgh and I went straight in at the deep end with one of my first games being against recently relegated Premiership Newcastle Falcons where we lost narrowly 13-17. We were also playing to full grounds which also inspired us as a team and of course completely different to the period we find ourselves in currently.

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How did this compare to the levels you had played previously?
It was interesting as it was not so much the level you played or the speed but the difference was more about how mistakes were punished. Games were tighter and teams at this level tend to really punish mistakes.

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So how did the lockdown affect on your career?
It was clear from the initial “Lockdown 1.0” that London Scottish would move from a full time to part-time team which had a real impact on the income and financial situation for most players including myself. It has been demonstrated further by their ultimate decision not to take part in this years Greene King Championship which a sort of validated my decision to have to find another club. I really enjoyed my time at London Scottish but as this happened 12 weeks before the season was due to start we were all in catch-up and needing to find options.
I was lucky in that I was picked up by Jersey Reds but not before I questioned it as to whether this was a relevant move for me given the current lockdown situation. Having had discussions with my family I decided to make the move. I came to Jersey Reds in July 2020 and have been here since.

So how is life at Jersey Reds and how did lockdown affect you?
Jersey is a beautiful island and although only 9 miles by 5 miles wide and a population of only 100,000 you could say quite small. However, we did not have ANY lockdown measures here until Dec 2020 so we had a lot of freedom compared to mainland UK.

However, Jersey DID have lockdown measures in place from Christmas 2020 and at the height there were up to 2700 cases which with a population of only 100,000 resulted in it being strict for a few months. However, we were still able to train which kept the lads motivated but we were being tested three times per week for COVID.

So what about the start of the season?
As I say, at first we were effectively in pre-season from August 2020. Also given our location Jersey Reds also have a logistical challenge in that for us in that for ALL away matches we literally flew to the UK on the morning of the match, coach to the ground and then fly home again straight after. Of course for teams coming to Jersey they will have had the same challenges.

Which teams will have to come to Jersey to play you so far?
We will play ten games in total and play each team once not home and away as it previous seasons. We also switched our home game against Richmond so we will end up only playing four home games.

So far we have played Doncaster, Nottingham and Coventry as our home matches. This weekend we have our last game of the short season this week where we will be playing the Cornish Pirates in Jersey at Stade Santander International on Saturday 29th May. To date we have played 9, won 4 and lost 5 so it would be nice to finish the season off with a win.

So were you able to have supporters?
In terms of home supporters since lockdown was lifted it has been fantastic and it does give you that home advantage as were able to have them in a few weeks earlier than most other teams. It actually resulted in us being able to get supporters (over 1000 fans) into our matches and put on a record score (Jersey Reds 55-12 Nottingham) for a home match. With the ongoing move towards normality seeing people being allowed into many sporting events has been motivating for all involved.

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Given our open discussion about your career, what has been your biggest challenge to date?
There have been a lot of challenges along the way, personal as well as team challenges. One of the biggest was when we learnt that the RFU was cutting funding to the championship and that London Scottish were going to part-time. For me it felt like all the hard work I had put in order to get to where I wanted to be was all going down the drain as I worked so hard and it was simply going to be taken away. The benefit is that I had played quite a few games for London Scottish so had quite an extensive highlights reel and had had some teams watch me play. But when I saw HR coming into London Scottish and literally sitting down to ensure that the boys had an up to date CV’s and that in less than 8 weeks we will all be jobless was quite difficult to take as I thought everything would be gone for me. Luckily for me Jersey Reds stepped in for me and for which I have been very grateful for.

“..one who stood out for me and is now being recognised is Sam Simmonds.”

Dan Barnes
Jersey Reds

With a big focus on life after rugby what are your future career ambitions?
Yes, we know there is way more to life than rugby as it could end today, tomorrow. Going to University was a big thing for me as initially I was not looking for a degree but got one and took a keen interest in the nutrition side of things. I have a business called “DB Nutrition Performance” and I am currently completing my personal training course at so that I can manage nutrition performance, personal training and lifestyle all together rather than just niche with nutrition.

With the current budget restraints making the grassroots pathway even more important moving forward. What words of advice would you have for other young players coming through given your pathway?
Players whether they are trialling to go into a club, county, DPP, junior or a senior academy team you just have to get to grips with the fact there is going to be a time when you are told NO or you do not get that contract or even get picked that weekend you cannot lose sight of what YOU want. If you want to be a rugby player you have to go and get it . International players do not get selected for games. You need to recognise that you are still young. I let that get to me and although I did not stop playing and continued to want bigger things but it was not until I was 24 that I was signed again professionally after getting my NO from the Wasps senior academy So your time will come if you put your head down. Do not think it is over as a professional rugby player or whatever you choose to do. As a rugby player, I would also say keep in with rugby teams, keep playing because outside of the rugby and the lifestyle, you make great friends and memories. You will also make great connections through rugby not just both socially and professionally with people from all over the world. So finally I would say put your head down and if you work hard it will be rewarded.

You have already played against some talented players, who have stood out for you coming through the senior Premiership Academy as well as the Championship?

Yes I have played with and against many talented players both with Wasps and in the Academy league. Players such as Maro Itoje, Nathan Earle, Nick Tomkins, Sam Simmonds, Stuart Townsend. In fact there are too many to name from all the teams however one who stood out for me and is now being recognised is Sam Simmonds but a lot of the stand out and talented ones are not all playing top flight rugby. One of these I would say is Oscar Hirskyj-Douglas who was one of the best back rowers I have ever played with and now playing in the centre and then there Alex Harrison and Connor Morrison who both suffered with injuries with Connor unfortunately having to retire last season from Henley Hawks. Alex is still playing (who I signed at the same time with Wasps) for Tring RFC and so stayed in the sport and are all thriving with what they are doing outside the game.

What has been your highlight of this season?

This is a bit of a weird one for the highlight of the season but firstly it is actually getting to play rugby with the massively long preseason. Also making memories with people on the rugby pitch as many of them far reaches of the world and some of these players when they leave you are lucky to see them again but many times you will not. If I had to say my biggest highlight would be playing to crowds again and that bit or normality and this was massive to me and to my family at home.

Finally what would you say to any young players who are given the option to play in an academy from aged 16?

If you have the option and get selected to play academy rugby then I would say go for it as it a great thing to do for both experience and getting a taste for what it is like to be in a professional environment. If you do not get that option it is not the end of the world as I know many players who were never in an Academy but are playing alongside me in the Championship and many great players who did go along the junior and senior academy routes. So I would say just take the opportunity to learn, listen to what the coaches tell you, listen to the feedback from your friends. Do not ever think you are better than anyone as you are all there to develop and learn as well. You are young with no weight on your shoulders so make sure you go to training, train well and take on as much information as you can from coaches and friends learning and building. Recognise that some games or some training sessions will not be great but just do not let that eat away at you as it is just a game so you just move on to the next one. If you want to be in it just go for it, just keep on keeping on.

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