David Barends (birth unknown) is a Great Britain international rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at international level for Other Nationalities, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity, Bradford Northern, York and Featherstone Rovers, as a .
Barends won two caps for Great Britain while at Bradford Northern, being selected on the 1979 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand. Both of Barends caps were against Australia, and is the only South African-born player to have represented Great Britain. He also represented the Other Nationalities team while at Bradford Northern and York.
Barends played in Bradford NorthernâÂÂs 17âÂÂ8 victory over Widnes in the Premiership Final during the 1977âÂÂ78 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 20 May 1978.
Barends played on the in Bradford Northern's 18âÂÂ8 victory over York in the 1978âÂÂ79 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1978âÂÂ79 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 28 October 1978, played on the , in the 5âÂÂ10 defeat by Castleford in the 1981âÂÂ82 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1981âÂÂ82 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 3 October 1981, and played on the , in the 7âÂÂ18 defeat by Hull F.C. in the 1982âÂÂ83 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1981âÂÂ82 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 2 October 1982.
Barends played on the in Bradford Northern's 6âÂÂ0 victory over Widnes in the 1979âÂÂ80 John Player Trophy Final during the 1979âÂÂ80 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 5 January 1980.
Barends was recommended to Wakefield Trinity by the former Wakefield Trinity player from South Africa, Ivor Dorrington, and joined in 1970 for a signing-on fee of ã1,000 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately ã24,2800 in 2016), he scored 2-tries on his début against Blackpool Borough at Belle Vue, Wakefield.
As of 2015, Barends lives in South Elmsall in West Yorkshire, England.