England a ‘big driver’ as Wasps ace begins to blossom
HEAD in his hands, sat up against the hoardings in place at Coventry Rugby Club, Alfie Barbeary’s 2021/22 season was getting off to a painfully familiar start.
A syndesmosis setback plus a series of calf and hamstring injuries had limited the powerful forward to just two appearances in 2021 leading up to last September’s pre-season friendly at Wasps’ city rivals.
The prognosis was not good for the then-20-year-old. His latest hamstring tear coupled with a revised approach from his employers meant it would be eight months before he returned to action in Black and Gold. Seven tries in nine games followed and an England recall for the Six Nations.
While a first cap eluded him during the tournament, Barbeary continued to clock-up club minutes. Prior to last night’s game he went the full 80 in seven of his last nine Wasps starts, missing just one match since the Six Nations concluded.
“Alfie had a big frustration at the start of the season, it hit him pretty hard,” said Wasps head coach Lee Blackett. “Since going into the England camp, I’ve just seen a more mature Alfie and knowing his body a little bit more. I think there’s a few of the younger guys who have had long spells being injured, a lot of them are maturing and understanding what their recovery is, their diet, everything around the game. Educating themselves well and that’s a big thing with him.”
Boosted by a hat-trick in Biarritz, Barbeary became Wasps’ top tryscorer. It was form that England boss Eddie Jones couldn’t ignore, prompting the inclusion of the Banbury native along with team-mates Jack Willis and Joe Launchbury for a mini-camp that starts on tomorrow.
A tailored programme sees the powerful ball carrier partake in a reduced amount of contact in midweek at Wasps – an approach that’s keeping the precocious talent fit and available for selection.
“He can come in very battered,” explained the Wasps boss. “We’re really having to look at his programme and look after
I just saw the way he was when he went away with England. I thought it was really good for him.
Lee Blackett
him. He’s just getting used to backto-back games and how the Premiership feels, week in, week out.”
With one of his number eight rivals Sam Simmonds ruled out of the summer tour to Australia, Barbeary is well placed to make the plane and his senior international
debut in the three-test tour down under. The ‘small’ concerns Blackett once had of Barbeary’s workload being managed have diminished, with England upholding their end of the bargain.
“I just saw the way he was when he went away with England,” Blackett said. “I thought it was really good for him, being in and around other internationals as well, seeing how they act. I know it’s a big driver for him. He is so driven to play for his country.”