With a name like John Barnes, you’d think that Hartpury’s director of rugby would have pursued a career in football.

In fact, he almost did, playing the game that the former Liverpool and England winger graced in the 1980s for much of his formative years.

And he played at a good standard too, being part of Bristol City’s academy until the age of 16 when he decided that pursuing his education rather than accepting a YTS offer was a better option.

“I didn’t really start playing rugby until I was 16,” the 39-year-old said. “Bristol Grammar School was a good rugby school and I enjoyed playing rugby. I played fly-half. I had good hand-eye coordination and could kick, run and pass.”

Barnes continued to play rugby while at Loughborough University and such was the speed with which he adapted to his new sport he was soon selected for England Students.

He was a good all-round sportsman, having reached national standard at tennis, cross-country and the 400 metres, but by now he’d been bitten by the rugby bug.

At the age of 22, he got offered a full-time contract to play in Italy for San Dona, a small town about half-an-hour away from Venice and Treviso.

It was before Italy were playing in the Six Nations and although they played in the top league – Serie A – Barnes said it was “very low-key”.

He was there for two seasons. The rugby was tough, he says – Benetton Treviso was their local derby – but he loved the lifestyle.

“I lived close to a beach and although my Italian wasn’t very good when I started it was much better when I finished,” he chuckled. “But I realised that career-wise I was never going to make it right to the top at rugby so I decided to come home.”

Home for the next season was semi-professional club Henley before he returned to the South West where he combined a role as a development coach with Bristol with playing and coaching at Clifton.

Coaching was always something that had interested Barnes and he felt his position of fly-half was a big advantage.

“You have to understand the game to play there,” said Barnes. “I was also lucky enough to work with some outstanding coaches like Richard Hill, John Brain and Martin Haag. I learned a lot from them.”

He took up a position as head coach of Hartpury College seven years ago under director of rugby Alan Martinovic, who he had known from his Bristol days. The pair enjoyed huge success and that has continued this season after Martinovic took up a new role with Bristol.

Barnes took over as director of rugby and has enjoyed a remarkable first season as the main man, leading the club to the National League One title and earning a place in the Championship for the first time.

“I worked very closely with Alan so it was an easy transition,” says the modest Barnes.

Barnes will be locking horns with former club Bristol next season and if he will relish the opportunity to go to a ground where, if things had turned out down differently, he could have been playing football.

“I still live in Bristol and me and my two sons are season-ticket holders,” he said. “It would be incredible to go to Ashton Gate and play them, they are a massive club.”