I dodged a few parties over the summer... but I feel better for it
Wasps forward Alfie Barbeary has finally binned the party-boy lifestyle to focus on his rugby
THE lads call me Eric — as in Cantona,’ says Alfie Barbeary. Why? ‘ They say I get special treatment,’ he adds, grinning. In fact, at Wasps, they call him a lot of things.
He has already admitted that one of his many nicknames is Piglet and, sure enough, when the No 8 is having his picture taken, clad in sandals, there is a yell from the nearby doorway of the club training centre: ‘ Put those trotters away!’
Perhaps there is special treatment at Wasps, in order to keep a special talent grounded. If so, it’s working. There is confidence in Barbeary, but none of that Cantona arrogance. There has been great fanfare for him within English rugby for the last couple of years. But having endured the loss of early- career momentum, he is recognising the need for the right attitude to go with ability.
Something had to give, so Barbeary chose not to participate in an end-of-season squad social in Budapest or a summer trip to Hvar. The penny has dropped — prior to his looming 22nd birthday — about the need to wring every drop out of his potential, as a multi-purpose forward who has made No 8 his home but remains a wannabe centre at heart.
‘It’s the first pre- season I’ve survived in one piece and one of the first times I’ve played the first game,’ he tells Sportsmail, after starting against Gloucester at Kingsholm last Sunday. ‘That was a nice feeling — just a shame we didn’t get the result.
‘I came back in better shape than normal. I’ve always been a bit immature in terms of the off-season. As an 18, 19-year-old, your mates are on gap years, so I would get lost with them. This year, I tried to think of myself as a bit more of a rugby player. When I’m lighter, I’m less of an injury risk.’
Asked what had been sacrificed, Barbeary adds: ‘There were a few lads’ holidays and parties. But I don’t regret it as much as I did at the time. It’s about being sensible. I’m happy the season has begun and I’m in one piece. Last year, I suffered a hamstring tear. I was always trying to rush back.’
Barbeary admits that after making waves when he first broke into the Wasps team, as a try-scoring, hard- carrying sensation, he struggled to keep making the same impact. Once his secret was out, the opposition targeted him.
‘I did start to feel man-marked,’ he admits. ‘That’s probably why I went a bit quiet. I didn’t really see the ball as much. I became a professional dummy line!
‘Now I’ve matured, you realise you have to work out a way round it. If other teams are going to bite in on me then they’ll be giving chances wide, so I’ve got to follow the ball, look for offloads and use that as my way into the game.’
The pressure has built on more than one front. Barbeary has also had the burden of becoming a focal point for Wasps fans after his emergence as a homegrown talisman caught the imagination.
‘There’s expectation, but you don’t feel it until you have a few quiet games,’ he says. ‘Then you put more pressure on yourself and overdo it. Last season, I had a spell where I was chasing games, when I was going in and out of (England) camp. I put the expectation on myself to play better, but then I had a couple of the worst games I’ve ever played.
‘I can’t say I don’t like expectation. As much as you get hype, you also get people who doubt you and it’s always a nice feeling when you can prove them wrong.’
Last season, English rugby was gripped by another brilliant new talent — London Irish flier Henry Arundell who went straight into the England team. There were echoes of Barbeary’s breakthrough, but he admits that Arundell handled the rise better.
‘He’s a top player and a good bloke,’ says Barbeary. ‘When I broke through, I didn’t have the robustness to back it up. He has shown his talent and backed it up. I hadn’t decided what position I wanted to play, so it was a bit awkward.’
That uncertainty has now been banished. Having moved from hooker to back-row, Barbeary set his heart on No 8 for Wasps and, hopefully in time, for England. Despite Billy Vunipola’s return and Zach Mercer’s decision to join Gloucester next summer to push for World Cup selection, Barbeary is ‘dead set’ on staying there.
Wasps hope he is also dead set on staying with them, as contract talks continue. Barbeary insists he’s happy, and jokes a move across the Channel — a la Mercer — may not work fitness-wise. ‘I’d come back too big!’ he says.
On the field, Barbeary has set his sights on helping his club make up for losing a 21-0 lead at Gloucester by seeing off Bristol in Coventry today. Off the field, he is working on his golf, after an agreement with new housemate and Wasps recruit Will Haydon-Wood that they would learn the game.
‘I’m loving it but I’m losing way too many balls,’ says Barbeary. ‘It’s costing a fortune!’
One way or another, Wasps are keeping special ‘Eric’ humble — despite the Cantona comparison.