Berrick Barnes: Life After Rugby and the Status of Australian Rugby Union

Barnes is currently coaching with Japanese Womens Rugby in Cape Town, where they are competing in the WXV2 competition alongside hosts South Africa, Scotland and Wales.

Barnes gives his opinion on the decline in Australian Rugby Union and life after rugby.

On Retirement

Barnes called time on his playing career after 51 appearances for the Wallabies, a career that was overshadowed by injuries.

"I played in Japan for 7 seasons and I was 33 at the time. The hard part for me was when I went away [to Japan] and my family stayed in Australia. Every time I returned back to Australia, my kids would ball their eyes out. I kept getting injured and wanted one last final crack at playing, maybe it was the ego,” Barnes told SportsBoom.com.

“I broke my leg, I then had knee and back surgery. I got back to playing again and within three games, I tore my bicep tendon. I then had to go back home for more surgeries and Covid happened...that's when I went, I am done."

"I can't keep doing this with the injuries. Although there were no regrets, there are some guys playing a lot longer now. I trained hard, played hard and I was not the biggest guy so it brought my fair share of injuries. I am lucky I can still do most things, surf and run. So I can't really complain."

Life After Rugby

"While I was still playing with Panasonic [Wild Knights], I was playing and coaching. Robbie Deans [coach] was great, he had a small staff so he let me do the backs and do the reviews myself. He would obviously oversee it all but was cool. He was giving me a taste of what it was like being a player-coach. He was my coach for over 10 years so I was pretty lucky."

"I went home for a bit then this gig [Japanese coaching] sort of came up. I was helping the Japanese women's side in Australia and the Newcastle Knights [Women's Rugby League], Wallabies, Barbarians and teams in Japan."

"I have been in and out with the Japanese Women Side, it's a bit of a weird one as I am paid between World Rugby and Japan Rugby. I am there on a contract basis, which is ideal for me and my family so I can go back and see my kids. I love coaching man!"

Coaching with Ben Mowen

In 2022, Barnes and former Wallabies International Mowen coached together in a brief stint with the Japanese Women Side.

"It was good to coach with Benny, he is such a driven guy. He has some real good aspirations. He is at the Brumbies at the moment, the forwards coach. His goal long term is to get in with the Wallabies, he obviously has a few steps to go."

Coaching Aspirations in Super Rugby

Barnes was asked whether he had any aspirations to follow his former teammate Mowen and coach in the Super Rugby.

Barnes responded, "It's actually an interesting one, I never loved playing Super Rugby. I love playing Club footy and Test footy. I'm not sure what it is or what it was about Super rugby but I went to Japan and found myself a club with Panasonic. I loved playing there, it felt a bit like home. Playing Test footy was a challenge, it kind of sorted me out as I didn't have flair in my game but in Japan you played with freedom."

"Although I did work with Eddie [Jones] last year, it was a great experience. Even though the results didn't go their way. I did have Eddie as a coach at the Reds, I wouldn't say I enjoyed it that much but it was definitely a learning experience as a 20 year old kid. Getting to work with him and see how he does things, I can see why he is one of the best. He leaves no stone unturned."

South African Sides Exit from Super Rugby

Since the South African franchises exited the Super Rugby competition, there were calls for them to return as some felt the quality and level of Super Rugby was slowly declining.

"I definitely feel the quality has decreased for sure. We are feeling it now as we lost that abrasiveness and physicality element [South African franchises] bring. They just brought a different style of play, I found all the teams played kind of differently as well. The Bulls used the physical and kicking game, the Stormers were renowned for their defense with the push up and in smother tackle. Sharks were a bit more expansive with the way they played and the Lions had come in as well."

"In New Zealand, all teams play a similar brand although the Blues changed it up this year but yeah it shows in the results too. Soon I think the Super Rugby competition will become a development competition for us."