Jersey Reds centre Dan Barnes explains 'heartbreak' at club's financial collapse

Dan Barnes was starting his fourth season at Jersey Reds

"It can be really heartbreaking when you realise that actually I need to give you a hug and say bye properly, because we might not cross paths again in life," says Dan Barnes.

The Jersey Reds centre is still coming to terms with the emotional reality of the club going out of business.

The club announced last week it would cease trading and said on Thursday that they were planning to liquidate a side that topped English rugby's second tier just a few months ago.

Going into his fourth season at Reds, the 28-year-old has gone from preparing for a new season to facing eviction in the space of a week after Jersey's politicians voted against spending taxpayers' money on propping up the ailing club.

"I'm still in that same feeling of not really knowing how to feel or think," Barnes tells BBC Radio Jersey.

"It's still pretty raw, everyone was holding on to that lifeline, so in terms of the way feelings go, it probably hasn't hit me too much yet, I know it will at some point.

"It's just devastating for everyone involved."

Looking overseas after English collapses

Jersey Reds won the Championship title earlier this year for the first time in their history

A fund has been set up to support players on the island who need financial help, while the Rugby Football Union says it will also support players and staff who have been affected.

The Reds' demise has brought to an end a 15-year rise that saw the islanders rise from the amateur ranks of London South West Division Three.

"Short term I'm going to be staying on the island," Barnes says.

"The Jersey community have been fantastic, there's day's work that I can take every now and again to keep myself going, so at the moment, short term, I'll stay in Jersey.

"I'd love to find another full-time gig anywhere, but they don't come easy and we've all put years of work in."

With Premiership sides Worcester, Wasps and London Irish also folding in the past year Barnes says he would think twice about joining another English side in the current financial climate.

"It's hard to have your trust in that," he says.

"The clubs are still not there and 150 players within a few months are out of work and out of jobs.

"If I can get a full-time gig I'm not really looking at English rugby, I'd snap up a Premiership gig 100%, but they're hard to come by.

"At the moment overseas would be great, I know the other unions look after their players a lot compared to the English rugby union and then the Championship - which is the forgotten league."