Matt Stevens on the incredible moment he saved teenage Brad Barritt from drowning
As an unconscious Brad Barritt dropped to the bottom of the Kearsney College swimming pool in Durban, Matt Stevens leapt in and pulled the future Saracens talisman out of the water where he was revived. The pair would go on to to become international rugby teammates, joining forces at Sarries, England and the British and Irish Lions on their victorious 2013 tour of Australia.
With Barritt now preparing to play his 263rd and final match for Saracens on Sunday against Bath at Allianz Park, Stevens, the pal who saved his life, has paid tribute to a player whose remarkable twelve-year career in London delivered five Gallagher Premiership titles and three European Champions Cup triumphs.
The 44-cap ex-England prop can’t remember if he was refereeing the water polo match or watching as a poolside spectator that fateful day at boarding school in Outer West Durban, but Stevens recalled seeing Barritt sinking after getting struck in the head.
“It’s a true story. I think I was reffing, he was sinking to the bottom and I jumped in,” said Stevens to RugbyPass from his home in Franschhoek. “Water polo is a violent sport and you have a pass to do anything you want underwater. It was a practice game and they are often more violent. We have formed a very close friendship having known each other since he was ten-years-old and it was great to be on the Lions tour to Australia in 2013 with Brad.”
Stevens, who turned 38 on October 1, remains the most capped Kearsney player in the history of the South African school, playing in the 1st XV for four seasons and captaining them in 2000 and 2001. At school he was selected for Craven week, SA Academy U18 (captain) and SA U19, and would then reach the final of ITV’s Celebrity X-Factor after being school head of choir.
End of an era… well played Brad Barritt ?https://t.co/2y2JSeqnn9
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 26, 2020
Barritt, the 34-year-old who won 26 England caps while at Saracens, was an all-rounder at Kearsney, playing first-team cricket and rugby, becoming captain and operating at hooker until U15 level. He was selected for Craven week, SA Schools and Sharks U19, playing at Super Rugby and Currie Cup level for the Durban franchise before joining Saracens in 2008.
Barritt, who has a young family, could opt to continue his playing career with the Sharks in Durban. However, having completed a masters in business management at the University of Hertfordshire, he has launched his own coffee brand, Tiki Tonga, which is the official coffee supplier to Tottenham Hotspur and he has shops in Johannesburg and Durban.
Stevens suggested that the midfielder’s unique skills underpinned the London club’s rise to the top of European rugby, a journey that ended with last Saturday’s semi-final defeat in Paris against Racing 92. “Brad is easily the most consistently good player that I ever played with and he did that when he was playing under Steve Borthwick at Sarries and then as captain. He is a very intelligent man and was constantly working to improve.
“He has this extreme competitiveness and was always driven to make the team better. I love him as a man and friend and it was always glorious to have him in the No12 jersey. I know his superb defence is highlighted but he is also a very good attacker.
“Brad played out-half for the Sharks before coming to Saracens and has all the skills. If you try and tackle Brad then it is like trying to halt a front row and he also has really good pace.”
— Saracens Rugby Club (@Saracens) September 26, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments