John Barnes was a season-ticket holder at Bristol Rugby last season but he’ll be doing his utmost to put one over them on the opening weekend of the new Championship season.

Newly promoted Hartpury College travel to Ashton Gate on Sunday 3rd September and Barnes is relishing pitting his wits against one of his former clubs.

“To get them in our first game is great,” said Hartpury’s director of rugby. “It’s a big game and there’s sure to be a lot of interest in how Pat Lam goes about things.

“There are no great expectations on us in this game, the pressure is not on us. It’s an exciting prospect.

“Bristol are a full-time club and they’ve spent a lot of money, we can go out there and enjoy ourselves.”

Despite Hartpury’s stunning run in National One last season – Barnes’ first in charge – when they won all 30 of their matches, they will start as heavy underdogs against a club that were playing the likes of Leicester, Saracens and Northampton just a few short months ago.

But while it would be a major shock to many if Hartpury were to come away from Bristol with a victory, Barnes is savvy enough to know that they need to get that first win under their belts sooner rather than later.

“The earlier we get that first win the better,” he said. “We’ve got Jersey at home the following week and then Rotherham away. It’s so important to get that first win.

“Once you get that the players get a bit of confidence and it shows you can compete.”

It won’t be easy, of course, with famous names such as Richmond, London Scottish and Nottingham competing alongside rebranded clubs like Cornish Pirates and Yorkshire Carnegie.

“We are in a big league and it’s going to be a tough year,” admitted Barnes. “A lot of the clubs are full-time but our aim is to finish as high as possible.”

The nature of college rugby means that there has once again been a high turnover of players from last season.

A strong core remains, however, and with new signings aplenty there is optimism that Hartpury will be able to make a go of life in the second tier of English rugby.

“This is the level we want to play,” said Barnes, “We are always going to be a development club. We’ve lost some players to Premiership clubs but that’s exactly what we’re about.

“We’re really happy when we’re bringing through players.”

Some of those players will be lining up against them on that first Sunday in September. Mat Protheroe and Joe Batley are both ex-Hartpury players and the club’s coaching staff includes Alan Martinovic, Sean Marsden and Mark Irish who all enjoyed spells at Hartpury.

Barnes, himself, was a member of Bristol’s academy coaching team for 10 years and he said: “We’ve got quite a lot here with Bristol connections whether they be Bristolians or ex-academy players.”

Barnes watched Bristol Rugby last season with his two young sons, so will any of them be renewing their season tickets for the new campaign?

“No,” he laughed, “but as a Bristolian I want to see Bristol do well. Maybe when they get back into the Premiership we’ll get season tickets again.”