Education
He graduated from Oxford with a third-class honours degree in history. He graduated in 1981.
He graduated from Oxford with a third-class honours degree in history. He graduated in 1981.
Barnes played fly-half for Newport Reconstruction Finance Corporation, Bristol, Bath. And represented England and the British Lions at international level Although born in Essex, he was to captain Wales Schools.
He captained the team, and played against Cambridge University"s Rob Andrew in the Varsity match.
Club career
While at University, Barnes played club rugby for Newport Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Barnes later played for Bristol Rugby, 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.
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.".
His first Bath game was on 7 September 1985 versus Plymouth Albion on the Recording
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. Barnes played for the Barbarians against Wales in October 1990, converting three tries in the Barbarians victory.
Life after playing
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. He later became involved in broadcasting, firstly with the British Broadcasting Corporation, and then joined Sky Sports in 1994.
He was nicknamed The Bath Barrel.
