Last year Jack Barker watched on through the live-stream as Tamworth put on a masterclass to demolish Barbarians.
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On Saturday he will be out there in the thick of the action as the Magpies look to repeat that result and notch their first win of the season.
One of the club's favourite sons, the second rower/back rower is back in the black and white after electing to sit out last season.
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Running his own business - Jack Barker Constructions - and with a couple of other Magpies players working for him, he thought it was just a bit too risky.
If there had been a case of COVID, half of his workforce would have had to isolate.
So they made a joint decision not to play.
Barker doesn't regret his decision but admits it was tough at times.
"I was obviously at home and I'd go online and watch it online," he said.
He said there were a few games where he got to half-time and just couldn't "watch it anymore" but he wasn't really ever tempted to lace up the boots.
It did though make him that bit keener to play this season.
"Fitness has been a bit of a drama for me, seeing as I didn't play or train last year," Barker said.
"But it's been good to be back with everyone."
The 2021 side is a very-different looking one to the one he was part of in 2019 with a host of players either joining the club or stepping up.
A cornerstone of the Magpies pack, Barker said it has been great to see particularly so many young players coming through, and believes the mix of youth and experience will pay off - they've just "got to get used to each other".
Their lineout and their start have been among the focuses this week.
"Our first kick last week, we didn't catch it," Barker said.
From then on they were pretty much playing catch-up with Armidale skipping away to a 17-nil lead.
The Magpies ended up fighting their way back but their slow start "made it harder".
The women's 7s side will kick-off the action at Tamworth Rugby Park at 1.10pm.
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