Bristol's Ed Barnes feared injury would end career

Barnes joined Bristol from Plymouth Albion at the end of the 2007/8 season

Bristol fly-half Ed Barnes says he thought his career might be over after rupturing his Achilles tendon for the second time.

The 29-year-old has just completed his first competitive match after 16 months out of action.

"In the first five seconds my thoughts were that it was a career-ender," Barnes told BBC Radio Bristol.

"But after speaking to the surgeon he told me if I did the rehab properly again it would go right this time."

He added: "I'm so happy to be back now and I'm just going to enjoy my rugby and get stuck in."

Barnes first picked up the injury against Leicester in April 2009 in Bristol's final game in the Premiership.

The former Plymouth man was initially expected to be out for about eight months but re-injured himself just weeks before he was due to return.

"When I first did it the surgeon said to me to go careful because if I did it again there could be complications, " he continued.

"But the boys here all gave me massive support and once I was out of the cast and back into rehab it wasn't as bad as everyone might think because you're busy every day."

Before the injury Barnes was a regular for Bristol and impressed the England hierarchy enough to make his debut for England Saxons against Portugal.

But with Adrian Jarvis, Nicky Little and Chris Ashwin all able to occupy the number 10 shirt at the Memorial Stadium, it looks like Barnes will have to settle for place at centre.

"I was having a good run before the injury but these things happen," said Barnes.

"Players come and go and there are a few fly-halves at the club this year and a few less centres.

The pressure's off us in some aspects as last season we were favourites and this season Worcester are obviously the favourites

Ed Barnes

"It still gives me the opportunity to play with width and by the looks of it I'll be playing most of my games there."

Barnes sat on the sidelines as Bristol failed to bounce straight back to the Premiership last season and has seen almost half the first XV leave the club as a result.

"The pressure is off us in some aspects as last season we were favourites and this season Worcester are obviously the favourites," he said.

"That may help us as it helped Exeter last season and it showed that the underdogs can come through.

"We've got a talented squad, a small squad and some young boys that have really impressed me.

"There's a good team spirit and I personally think we'll be alright."