[5] Byrnes played for Leinster Rugby in the Celtic League and Heineken Cup for two seasons from 2005.
[6] Byrnes played for Sydney Fleet in the inaugural season of the Australian Rugby Championship in 2007.
[9] Byrnes played in the 2011 Rugby World Cup for Russia against USA, Italy, Ireland and his country of birth, Australia.
[10] In mid-2012 Byrnes played his last game of rugby against Uruguay with his Russian comrades in the IRB Nations Cup.
[16] In 2011, Byrnes attended the wedding of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and Charlene Wittstock.