Ryno Barnes

Barnes started his senior career with Cape Town-based Western Province during the 2006 Vodacom Cup. He made his debut against the Mighty Elephants in Port Elizabeth, coming on as a late substitute.^[3] He was promoted to the starting line-up for their next match against the Golden Lions in Cape Town the following week^[4] and eventually made a total of thirteen appearances for Western Province during the competition.

In 2007, Barnes moved north to East Rand-based side the Falcons. He appeared in all six of the Falcons' matches in the 2007 Vodacom Cup and scored his first senior try on his Falcons debut, a 17–13 victory over the Griffons in Welkom in the opening match of the season,^[5] following this up with his second senior try a week later against Griquas in Nigel.^[6]

Barnes made his debut in the Currie Cup in 2007, coming on as a substitute in the Falcons' match against Boland Cavaliers in Brakpan.^[7] He played in ten of the Falcons matches during the 2007 Currie Cup Premier Division – scoring one try against the Sharks^[8] – but could not prevent them finishing bottom of the log.

Barnes established himself as the first choice hooker at the Falcons in 2008, starting all seven of their matches during the 2008 Vodacom Cup and appearing in all fourteen of their matches during the 2008 Currie Cup Premier Division, where the Falcons once again finished bottom of the log, this time losing their Premier Division status in a two-legged play-off against the Leopards.

Barnes, however, continued to play at Premier Division level as he made the move to Kimberley-based side Griquas for the 2009 season. After making eight starts during the 2009 Vodacom Cup to help Griquas lift the trophy for the fourth time, he was also called up to a Highveld XV that played against the British & Irish Lions during their 2009 tour to South Africa. Barnes scored a first-half try in his side's spirited 25–37 loss to the touring side.^[9][10]

Barnes played in all fourteen of Griquas' matches in the 2009 Currie Cup Premier Division, starting twelve of those and scoring two tries – one in their match against the Leopards^[11] and another against the Blue Bulls.^[12]

His performances for the Peacock Blues in also led to him being included in the Cheetahs Super Rugby team for the 2010 Super 14 season. After being an unused substitute the first three times he was named on the bench for the Cheetahs, he eventually came on just after the hour mark in their match against the Hurricanes in Bloemfontein.^[12] He started a Super Rugby match for the first time in April 2010 when he was included in the run-on side for their match against the Chiefs in Hamilton,^[13] eventually making a total of eight appearances.

Barnes played in all fourteen of Griquas' matches during the 2010 Currie Cup Premier Division, scoring two tries to help them finish in sixth position in the competition.

2011 saw Barnes once again be a key player for the Cheetahs during the 2011 Super Rugby season, making thirteen appearances including a spell during which he started eight consecutive matches for the side. His record during the 2011 Currie Cup Premier Division was similar to that of 2010, with Barnes making fourteen appearances – starting all of those – and scoring two tries, against the Sharks^[14] and Golden Lions^[15] respectively, as Griquas once again finished in sixth position.

During the 2012 Super Rugby season, Barnes' involvement was limited to just one substitute appearance in their match against the Chiefs in Bloemfontein.^[16] Hercú Liebenberg was the preferred back-up choice to Cheetahs first-choice hooker Adriaan Strauss, which led to Barnes being involved more in Griquas' 2012 Vodacom Cup campaign. He started in seven of their eight matches during the competition as they reached the final of the competition, where they lost 20–18 to Western Province on home soil. He made nine appearances for Griquas during the 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division as they finished fifth in a now-reduced six-team league to avoid playing in a relegation play-off match.

The 2013 Super Rugby season saw Barnes return to the Cheetahs squad as backup to Adriaan Strauss. He was named on the bench for all 17 of their matches (16 regular season matches, plus the Cheetahs' first ever play-off appearance), but only played off the bench on eight occasions. He made nine starts for Griquas during the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division; this time, the team failed to avoid finishing bottom of the log and they had to play in a two-legged relegation play-off against the Pumas. Barnes started both the 21–19 victory in Kimberley^[17] and the 33–15 defeat in Nelspruit^[18] as Griquas lost their Premier Division status.

Once again used as the main understudy to Strauss during the 2014 Super Rugby season, Barnes made four appearances for the Cheetahs and scored one try in their match against the Rebels in Melbourne^[19] – Barnes' first try in Super Rugby in his 31st appearance for the side – before being released to Griquas to aid their attempt to return to the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division by virtue of winning the 2014 Currie Cup qualification tournament. He played in all six matches in the tournament and scored his first ever two-try haul in their match against the SWD Eagles in George^[20] to help his side top the log and return to the Premier Division. He played in all ten matches in the competition (although Martin Bezuidenhout was the regular starting hooker) as Griquas finished seventh in the competition.

Coincidentally, Barnes' final game for Griquas also turned out to be his 100th match for the side. He came on as a late substitute in the match against the Blue Bulls in Pretoria,^[21] but marred the occasion as he was sent off just four minutes later for swearing at referee Pro Legoete, as Griquas crashed to a 46–12 defeat.^[22]

Barnes joined the Free State Cheetahs for the 2015 season.^[23]

• "SA Rugby Player Profile – Ryno Barnes". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
• Ryno Barnes at itsrugby.co.uk