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#Post#: 150639--------------------------------------------------
Barbeary to join Saracens from Bath in 2026-27
DIR By: Rugbycat
Date: March 9, 2026, 12:48 pm
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Saracens have signed number eight Alfie Barbeary from Prem
rivals Bath for the 2026-27 season.
Barbeary has played 60 games for Bath, including 11 this season,
and featured in the Prem, Prem Rugby Cup and Challenge Cup
finals last season as the club won a treble.
The 25-year-old joined the Somerset-side following the collapse
of Wasps in 2022 and moves to the north London club with back
row Tom Willis set to depart for Bordeaux in the summer.
"Alfie is a highly talented young player who we are delighted to
welcome to the club," said Saracens director of rugby Mark
McCall.
"His attributes and character will complement and add value to
the group and we are looking forward to him realising his
potential in the years ahead."
Barbeary has played once for England A and also represented his
country at under-20 level.
"Saracens have always been a top club and I am looking forward
to a new challenge in north London," Barbeary said.
"They have consistently been challenging for silverware and that
is something I am very motivated to help them achieve."
HTML https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c4gjy23l4w4o
#Post#: 150641--------------------------------------------------
Re: Barbeary to join Saracens from Bath in 2026-27
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: March 9, 2026, 1:11 pm
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We could really do with a back row player like that. Someone
really physical.
#Post#: 150647--------------------------------------------------
Re: Barbeary to join Saracens from Bath in 2026-27
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: March 9, 2026, 2:24 pm
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Virtually peerless as a tackle busting carrier, but balanced out
by being an absolute liability sometimes. His game smarts are
almost completely absent at times.
He'll go well at Saracens because they know exactly how to
harness a player like that, and Farrell & co need a big ball
carrying 8.
#Post#: 150648--------------------------------------------------
Re: Barbeary to join Saracens from Bath in 2026-27
DIR By: championes
Date: March 9, 2026, 4:54 pm
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Plus he gets a nice house and a surprisingly good deal on his
image rights…
#Post#: 150650--------------------------------------------------
Re: Barbeary to join Saracens from Bath in 2026-27
DIR By: Quinky
Date: March 10, 2026, 12:12 am
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--- Quote from: FrostAndFire link ---
>
> We could really do with a back row player like that. Someone
really physical.
>
--- End Quote ---
I'd say we're pretty well stocked at 8. Although I wouldn't mind
if we signed Evan Roos...
#Post#: 150651--------------------------------------------------
Re: Barbeary to join Saracens from Bath in 2026-27
DIR By: Yareet
Date: March 10, 2026, 2:10 am
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Something strange* is going on here.
The rumours are that Barbeary’s replacement will be DdP from us.
A couple of years ago that would’ve been a real gut punch for
us. Now Bath are replacing an EQP with a seemingly permanently
injured South African. He’s managed 2hrs of Prem Rugby this
season.
* “Strange” as in weird rather than dodgy
#Post#: 150656--------------------------------------------------
Re: Barbeary to join Saracens from Bath in 2026-27
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: March 10, 2026, 4:35 am
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--- Quote from: Yareet link ---
>
> Something strange* is going on here.
>
> The rumours are that Barbeary’s replacement will be DdP from
us. A couple of years ago that would’ve been a real gut punch
for us. Now Bath are replacing an EQP with a seemingly
permanently injured South African. He’s managed 2hrs of Prem
Rugby this season.
>
>
> * “Strange” as in weird rather than dodgy
>
--- End Quote ---
Barbeary's only really had a couple of seasons without a big
injury break, too. For a while he was a proper sicknote. But
ultimately I think it's down to the fact that Miles Reid has
made a huge success of his switch to 8 and they're a much better
team with him there, so they're looking for decent hard-hitting
cover at most. I dunno what their youngsters are like, maybe
they have an option coming through as well?
#Post#: 150668--------------------------------------------------
Re: Barbeary to join Saracens from Bath in 2026-27
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: March 10, 2026, 6:25 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Quinky link ---
>
> I'd say we're pretty well stocked at 8. Although I wouldn't
mind if we signed Evan Roos...
>
--- End Quote ---
We still lack punch in the back row, and we don't seem to know
where we prefer CCS to play. Sometimes he's at 8, sometimes at
flanker, sometimes in the second row. We don't necessarily need
an 8, but we do need one of the back three who can reliably dent
the opposition. Two often we play with two 7s who are turnover
specialists and Dombrandt, who is excellent but isn't the kind
of player to smash through defences.
#Post#: 150669--------------------------------------------------
Re: Barbeary to join Saracens from Bath in 2026-27
DIR By: oakhaven
Date: March 10, 2026, 6:34 am
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--- Quote from: JammyGit link ---
>
> Barbeary's only really had a couple of seasons without a big
injury break, too. For a while he was a proper sicknote. But
ultimately I think it's down to the fact that Miles Reid has
made a huge success of his switch to 8 and they're a much better
team with him there, so they're looking for decent hard-hitting
cover at most. I dunno what their youngsters are like, maybe
they have an option coming through as well?
>
--- End Quote ---
I think Arthur Green is the one they've been blooding for a
couple of years, but he's had limited game time given how full
their back row stocks are. They've had the luxury of being able
to drip-feed their academy players into the senior side from
time to time because of how packed their squad has been, so I
suspect with Barbeary leaving they'll give him some more time in
the Premiership before the end of the season. Reid can cover
everywhere in the back row and Hill can move to second row when
needed as well, so now is probably the right time for them to
start doing rotating him in.
#Post#: 150701--------------------------------------------------
Re: Barbeary to join Saracens from Bath in 2026-27
DIR By: Quinky
Date: March 10, 2026, 1:57 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: JammyGit link ---
>
> Barbeary's only really had a couple of seasons without a big
injury break, too. For a while he was a proper sicknote. But
ultimately I think it's down to the fact that Miles Reid has
made a huge success of his switch to 8 and they're a much better
team with him there, so they're looking for decent hard-hitting
cover at most. I dunno what their youngsters are like, maybe
they have an option coming through as well?
>
--- End Quote ---
Gotta say, Miles Reid is a quality player.
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