Sporting dishevelled tracksuit bottoms, a equally giant jumper, leather-based slippers and a beanie hat, Alfie Barbeary takes a seat on the balcony overlooking a pitch at Saracens’ Previous Albanians coaching floor. His gold earring is nearly seen under the headwear.
Barbeary is considered one of PREM Rugby’s nice characters and will probably be Sarries who will benefitting from his individuality not Bathtub following his summer season transfer to the capital from the west nation.
As such, there may be a lot to debate as he sits down with Each day Mail Sport: His newest boss Brendan Venter’s non permanent job title change from director of rugby to ‘wine marketing consultant’ in order to keep away from media commitments, a summer season of wedding ceremony celebrations, battling the London Underground, a contemporary haircut and staying true to himself.
There may be, although, just one place to begin, though Barbeary will not be about to query the perspective of his boss to his media commitments.
‘Brendan is the wine marketing consultant,’ No 8 Barbeary says of his eccentric South African boss. ‘We tried just a few glasses with him in pre-season, however that’s so far as it’s gone. I’ll ask him (for recommendation) if I ever change into a wine drinker. I’m extra of a beer man!
‘Brendan has been nice. We had health testing in my first week right here and he virtually killed me! He referred to as it “the combat take a look at” and it was actually a case of combating on your life. You needed to run till you couldn’t run anymore.’
Alfie Barbeary is considered one of PREM Rugby’s nice characters and will probably be Sarries who will benefitting from his individuality not Bathtub following his summer season transfer
Barbeary makes his PREM Rugby debut for Saracens as they defeat Leicester of their first sport of the brand new season final weekend
Lengthy seen as considered one of English rugby’s brightest prospects since he first got here via at Wasps, the 25-year-old Barbeary moved to Bathtub in 2022 when his boyhood crew disappeared into administration. He swiftly grew to become a cult hero within the west nation on account of his spectacular shows and distinctive character.
It was a shock, due to this fact, when Bathtub revealed they might not lengthen his contract amid a necessity to suit their squad’s giant wage invoice throughout the league’s wage cap. Bathtub’s loss has been Saracens’ achieve.
‘I knew just a few of the boys earlier than I got here right here and I’m residing with Phil Brantingham, who is a good prepare dinner, in order that undoubtedly made it simpler settling in,’ says Barbeary, who like most of his new crew’s squad, relies in St Albans.
‘Every little thing is lots larger than Bathtub right here. It’s a lot nearer to London. I’m nonetheless attempting to work out the Tube. I received a lot of the means dwelling on it on my own for the primary time the opposite day. Phil was very impressed I did not get an Uber. That was a proud second for me!’
Barbeary beloved it at Bathtub. This summer season, he attended six weddings of his former team-mates, going as far afield as Portugal, Cornwall and Scotland to mark milestones for Will Muir, Will Stuart and Finn Russell respectively. Barbeary, as he at all times does, lived for the second earlier than becoming a member of up together with his new crew for pre-season.
‘It was carnage. Will Muir, as grasping as he’s, determined to have two weddings which actually did not assist,’ Barbeary says. ‘The Bathtub lads have been asking me if I’ve been lacking them. I haven’t in any respect as a result of I actually spent each weekend of my summer season with them! It made it a little bit bit simpler to go away, to be sincere.
‘It was undoubtedly powerful on the time, however I had a lot respect and love for the membership that after I was instructed, I used to be by no means going to throw my toys out of the pram and cease attempting. I needed to crack on and do my job.
‘Rugby is a enterprise. You may need an emotional connection to a membership, however you’ve received to have the ability to see it that means too.’
When Bathtub received three trophies in 2025, Barbeary famously led the membership’s celebrations typically sporting nothing however a pair of budgie smugglers – therefore the nickname ‘Captain Underpants’
Barbeary in motion for his first membership Wasps earlier than they collapsed into administration
When Bathtub received a treble of trophies in 2025, Barbeary famously led the membership’s celebrations – first on a bus tour of town after which onwards to the Glastonbury Competition and throughout Europe.
He did so typically sporting nothing however a pair of budgie smugglers, his then frizzy haircut protruding wildly. It solely served to bolster his standing as one of many English sport’s most likeable figures, incomes him the nickname of ‘Captain Underpants’. Now sporting a shorter, extra business-style trim, Barbeary admits it’s time for work as he appears to be like to impress at Saracens.
‘After I received again from vacation, my hair was simply burnt. It was matted, horrible,’ he says. ‘I needed to shave it off. There was no going again, so now I’m simply beginning that vicious cycle once more of regrowing it. The massive hair will come again in some unspecified time in the future.’
Barbeary has beforehand admitted he may not have but fulfilled the potential that many individuals noticed in him in his early days at Wasps. He’s but to win an England cap for instance. Does he suppose his off-field persona has held him again on it?
‘It’s simply me, being me,’ Barbeary says. ‘I can’t say what may have been if I used to be perhaps a bit extra skilled or something like that. It’s simply how I’m, so I’m not going to take a seat right here and discuss what ifs.
‘With the best way rugby goes, no-one ought to actually disguise who they’re. My character would possibly come out a bit extra right here the extra my hair grows. I don’t actually maintain again. If I can earn cash off that, I am blissful to take action!’
Barbeary is represented by the Stellar Group, whose star rugby shoppers Henry Pollock and Russell have each signed profitable offers with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Company. ‘I have not been in that dialog. I believe they’re too busy managing Finn and Pollock,’ says Barbeary, laughing. ‘It’s simply these two in the meanwhile. He (Hearn) has received his star boys and he is going with them.’
So what in regards to the uncommon alternative of garments? ‘I’m a giant fan of consolation,’ he says. ‘You will not see me sporting something too tight. I get completely ripped to shreds for these slippers, however they’re essentially the most comfy factor I personal. They’re just about like pores and skin on me now.
‘I had to purchase a brand new pair as a result of on the first of Will Muir’s weddings, the Bathtub lads threw considered one of them into the ocean at evening. They didn’t like them and I’m afraid of the ocean!’
‘Clearly, you wish to play for England,’ Barbeary says. ‘I’ve simply received to do my finest and carry out with Saracens. That’s step one and after that, what will likely be will likely be’
‘Rugby’s a enterprise. You may need an emotional connection to a membership, however you’ve received to have the ability to see it that means too,’ Barbeary says of the choice to let him go by Bathtub the place he had change into a cult hero
And that Take a look at cap? ‘Clearly, you wish to play for England,’ Barbeary says. ‘I’ve simply received to do my finest and carry out with Saracens. That’s step one and after that, what will likely be will likely be.’
Has he spoken to England coach Steve Borthwick? ‘There have been ins and outs. However there may be unbelievable competitors within the back-row. Lacking out on squads is hard to take, however there are such a lot of different high quality gamers.’
Impressing with what’s now a star-studded Saracens squad, who beat Leicester final weekend, will solely serve to assist Barbeary’s ambitions. He’s considered one of three massive summer season arrivals, alongside Tomos Williams and George Martin.
‘While you take a look at what this membership has accomplished and the way a lot expertise it has, that’s what drew me right here. I’m a bit egocentric. I wish to be at a membership that’s competing within the PREM and in Europe. In case you take a look at the squad now we have now, there is no motive why we should not be in that dialog,’ Barbeary, who has changed former Wasps team-mate Tom Willis at StoneX Stadium, says.
‘I do know Tom effectively. It’s massive footwear to fill, however I’m not attempting to interchange him,’ Barbeary says. ‘What he did right here was unbelievable and I’ve received nothing however respect for that. If I’m half pretty much as good as him, I’ll be blissful. This group is in a extremely great spot.’
