Tobias Barnfield
Built Different, Flanker and Determined…
My Journey, Rugby News & More!
You’re in the right place to find out all about the matches, results, my journey and what’s happening next!
There are also Sponsorship opportunities to take advantage of too by following the Sponsorship tab on the menu at the top of this page. .
About
Find out how I got to where I am now, what drives me and how I have overcome being written off at the young age of 7 years old. I have been inspired by many and aim to inspire many more.
Read more on the experiences I have encountered and the lessons I have learned so far.
Fixtures, Results & Writeup's
Information on the Chesapeake league, Old Glory, UMW fixtures, and the following games and results.
There may even be a few photos too.
Blog
I am a passionate rugby player who doesn’t let anything stop me from following my dreams. My lifelong dream is to go pro and play professional rugby at the highest level possible.
Read more about my journey from ‘Written Off to Washington’ in my blogs.
I graduated in May 2025 from the University of Mary Washington, Virginia, with a major in digital studies and communications and a minor in sports management. While studying, I also trained hard, and still am, to fulfil my rugby dream of being drafted in the MLR draft 2025.
Before coming out here, I was playing rugby with Carmarthen Quins, South Wales, an amazing experience I will never forget.
Find out how to sponsor and support me by following the Sponsorship Opportunities button above.
5 Lessons I’ve learnt in life…
1) Always enjoy what you are doing
If you aren’t enjoying what you are doing, you’re not living in alignment. Living in alignment means doing what you’re meant to do. Sometimes it’s a waiting game, sometimes you have to play the long game, but always you have to believe and trust in yourself.
2) Play the long game
Achieving your goals and dreams in life isn’t about the quick wins. Remember the Aesop’s Fable of the Hare and the Tortoise? Well, the Tortoise won because he knew his goal, knew his ability and kept going. He was never looking back. So be the Tortoise, not the Hare.
3) Trust in yourself
Sometimes you have to trust the process and see what happens. We don’t always know the right answer to every situation we experience. So trust the process in life, but most importantly, trust yourself. We are all built with an internal compass which many refer to as a ‘gut feeling.’ Trust this weird feeling; you may feel it in your gut, chest, stomach, or pit of your stomach, a voice inside your head or an emotion. Trust the one which you feel most in situations of uncertainty or elation.
4) Be stubborn about your goals
Being stubborn is not always a bad thing. Stubborn can mean you’re determined; it’s only perceived as stubbornness by the other person. Follow through, set plans out, communicate your goals and determination to others. This way, they will have the opportunity to understand you better. Communication is key to not being misunderstood or misjudged for something you’re not. Not everyone will know why you’re determined or passionate, so what’s important is what matters to you, your goals, your dreams and how you achieve them.
5) Live your life
Don’t bow to the pressure of others around you, your parents, your coaches, teachers, even your friends. Don’t be afraid to be the one who stands out.
How will you live your life if you always do what everyone else tells you to do and if you don’t create, know and showcase what makes you, you?
I’ve broken a few moulds throughout my life, made a few waves, and created my life the way I want to live. That doesn’t mean to say that I have broken laws; it means I have taken the opportunities out there for everyone to see and acted on them in the best way possible. I have communicated my dreams and goals to those I hoped would support me (and they have) and just kept going.
One step forwards is better than staying still or moving backwards. So find your supporters, communicate and don’t ever stop living your life.
No one else is your responsibility (until you have kids!)
I graduated in May 2025 from the University of Mary Washington, Virginia, with a major in digital studies and communications and a minor in sports management. While studying, I also trained hard, and still am, to fulfil my rugby dream of being drafted in the MLR draft 2025.
Before coming out here, I was playing rugby with Carmarthen Quins, South Wales, an amazing experience I will never forget.
Find out how to sponsor and support me by following the Sponsorship Opportunities button above.
“Pleasure to help Tobey out during 2020 and onwards. Works hard, puts the effort in and gets results. That’s all a coach wants from their players. He’ll go far with the attitude he curently has. Keep it up Tobey.”
“It was an honour to have worked with Tobey on his fitness and focus for rugby when he was based in Manchester. He is an absolute pleasure to work with and I’m very proud to see his achievements so far. Well Done, keep it up!”
“Forwards win games, backs decide by how much”
Sponsor
I graduated in May 2025 from the University of Mary Washington, Virginia, with a major in digital studies and communications and a minor in sports management. While studying, I also trained hard, and still am, to fulfil my rugby dream of being drafted in the MLR draft 2025.
Before coming out here, I was playing rugby with Carmarthen Quins, South Wales, an amazing experience I will never forget.
Find out how to sponsor and support me by following the Sponsorship link here.