Berrick Barnes

Infobox Rugby Union biography
playername = Berrick Stevens Barnes


fullname = Berrick Stevens Barnes
dateofbirth = birth date and age|df=yes|1986|5|28
cityofbirth = Brisbane, Queensland
countryofbirth = Australia
height = convert|1.83|m|ftin|abbr=on
weight = convert|90|kg|stlb|abbr=on
nickname = Barnesy, Berri,Steve
school = Ipswich Grammar School
university =
position = Fly-half|capital=yes / Inside centre
currentclub = Queensland Reds
youthyears =
youthclubs = Kingaroy Red Ants
years =
2005–06
clubs = Toowoomba Clydesdales
Brisbane Broncos
caps(points) =
9 (4)
ru_province = Wests
ru_provinceyears = 2006–
ru_provincecaps = 22 (40)
super14 = Queensland Reds
super14years = 2006–
super14caps = 22 (40)
youthrepyears =
youthrepteam = Australia U-19
youthrepcaps(points) =
repyears = 2007–
repteam = nrut|Australia
repcaps(points) = 4 (16)
ru_sevensnationalyears =
ru_sevensnationalteam =
ru_sevensnationalcomp =
pcupdate =
repupdate =

Berrick Barnes (born 28 May 1986 in Brisbane, Queensland) is an Australian rugby union footballer. He plays for the Queensland Reds in the Super 14 competition and has been capped four times for nrut|Australia. His usual position is fly-half or inside Rugbycentre.

Barnes was included in Australia's squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup and made his debut as a replacement in Australia's opening pool game, against nrut|Japan, coming on as a replacement for fly-half Stephen Larkham. He scored his first international try within three minutes of taking the field and followed it with a second in the closing minutes of the game. He started as fly-half in Australia's next two pool games, against nrut|Wales and nrut|Fiji, scoring a drop goal in each game, before being rested for the final pool game. He returned as the starting fly-half in the quarter-final against nrut|England, which Australia lost.

Early life

Barnes was raised in Kingaroy, Queensland. He attended Ipswich Grammar School with team mate Nic Berry as well as current Queensland Reds development squad members Daniel Linde and Brett Gillespie. He excelled at cricket, rugby league and rugby union.

Career highlights

International career

Barnes made his international debut aged 21 in Australia's first pool match of the 2007 Rugby World Cup, against Japan. After only 3 minutes on the field, and with his first touch of the ball, Barnes scored his first Test try. He scored again, five minutes from the end of the game, which Australia won 91–3. After the match, in which he excelled, [ [http://www.theroar.com.au/2007/09/10/berrick-was-the-right-call/ The Roar: Berrick was the Right Call] ] he said: [ [http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/news/barnesstorming-berrick-nearly-steals-the-show/2007/09/09/1189276548974.html Rugby Heaven: Barnes nearly steals the show] ]

"The crowd was unbelievable. It felt like a Boxing Day Test. Standing in that tunnel, I've never heard a roar like it. Standing next to the Japanese as we waited to walk out was pretty special. I was giving a few 'yahoos'. The boys gave me a bit about that. I was pumped. I wasn't going to hold it in."

Barnes was originally selected as a replacement for Australia's next game, against nrut|Wales at the Millennium Stadium, but when Stephen Larkham injured his knee, Barnes was told on the morning of the game that he would be the starting fly-half. [ [http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22426237-5003411,00.html Courier Mail: Wallabies beat Wales with help from Berrick Barnes] ] He played the full match and made a significant contribution to Australia's 32–20 victory, setting up a try for Matt Giteau and then scoring a drop goal from 32 metres. He added another drop goal in Australia's next pool game, a 55–12 win over Fiji that assured Australia a place in the quarter-finals. Barnes was rested for the final pool game but returned to the starting line-up for the quarter-final match against England, which resulted in Australia's exit from the tournament. To date, Barnes has scored 2 tries and 2 drop goals in four test appearances.

uper 14 Career

Barnes plays for the Queensland Reds and has made 22 appearances, scoring 4 tries, 4 conversions, 3 penalties, and 1 drop goal. [ [http://www.redsrugby.com.au/reds/reds.rugby/page/40212/section/40810] Berrick Barnes Queensland Reds Profile]

Rugby League

Barnes begun his professional sporting career with a season of rugby league football for the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League competition. [Broncos player|482] He made his debut in 2005, aged 18. His first grade record was of 9 appearances scoring 1 try. His position of choice was five-eighth. His junior club was the Kingaroy Red Ants. Barnes also played in the halves for the Toowoomba Clydesdales. cite web|url=http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=22955|title=Queensland Under 19 Team|publisher=RLeague.com|date=2005-05-16|accessdate=2007-10-12]

He also represented Australia as part of the 2004 Junior Kangaroos team, playing the Kumuls in Townsville. [ [http://www.nomisfootball.com/Nomis/Nomis_Athletes/Berrick-Barnes.aspx Nomis | Football | The revolution has begun - Berrick-Barnes ] ] Barnes also played for the Queensland Under 19 Team.

He was initially thought of as a long-term successor to Australian captain Darren Lockyer. After his first run-on start with the Broncos he opted to join Rugby Union with the Queensland Reds in theSuper 14 competition. cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200506/s1392827.htm|title=Barnes lifts Reds' blues|publisher=ABC|date=2005-10-15|accessdate=2007-10-11]

Post 2007 Rugby World Cup

Following his successful appearances in the 2007 World Cup, Barnes is well-placed to establish himself as the long-term successor to Stephen Larkham as Australia's fly-half, though he faces competition from his Queensland Reds teammate Quade Cooper and from Kurtley Beale of the NSW Waratahs.

References

External links

* [http://www.redsrugby.com.au/reds/reds.rugby/page/40212/section/40810 Queensland profile]
* [http://www.rugby.com.au/players/wallabies/2007_squad/2007_rwc_squad/barnes_berrick,62566.html Wallabies profile]
* [http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/teams/team=38/player=33011/index.html 2007 RWC Profile]
* [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/scorers/players/Berrick_Barnes.html NRL Points]