Stormers legend walked the 'hard path' for new generation
SPOTLIGHT: Brok Harris has endured an emotional time as he says goodbye to his playing days, but a sparkle in his eyes suggests he is hungry to contribute in other ways.
The 40-year-old was sporting a knee brace and crutches as he watched a Stormers training session this week ahead of their penultimate United Rugby Championship league phase match against the Dragons in Cape Town on Saturday.
His farewell season was cut short in Round 16 when he suffered that knee injury in a 56-5 win against Benetton.
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“I knew immediately when it happened. I just heard that popping sound,” said Harris.
“I’ve never had a knee injury. The doctor approached me and said, ‘We need to take you off on the cart’.
“He was persisting, ‘You are not going to be able to walk’.
“I said, ‘Well, if this is my last game, I am walking off this field’.
“As I started walking, I felt this wobbly knee, and I was like ‘Oh s**t, what have I done’.
“It was very emotional. It was the ‘Kids Round’ [in the URC] and I received a letter from my daughter and she said, ‘Sterkte met Papa’s se laaste game’ [Good luck with your last game].
“She was psychic and looked into the future. It was very special,” a smiling Harris added.
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With 170 appearances over two spells, Harris is the most-capped Stormer of all time. He is also a legend in Newport after a seven-year stint with the Dragons.
Earlier this week, the Stormers released a video where players and coaches paid tribute to him and it revealed the impact he has had at different levels.
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“It’s been incredibly hard but also nice. You always try to be the guy that people respect and you try your best to be humble,” he said
“All the messages and all the support, I think that is probably the thing that gives me that peace of mind that I’m leaving the game on a positive note.
“There is a lot of emotion, especially after I saw all the guys chatting and tears running. The last couple of days was very special.
“I think I will probably need time to process it, but in the grand scheme of things It has been amazing.”
So, what is next for the big man?
Harris had a mentoring role with the Stormers while playing and now he is going to make the permanent switch to coaching.
One of the players he will take under his wing is tighthead Zach Porthen, who is set to get his opportunity in the Stormers’ matchday squad this weekend.
Porthen captained the Junior Springboks last year and he recently signed a contract extension with the Cape franchise.
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“Giving back is very important for me. I’ve always wanted to go into coaching since I went to university,” Harris said.
“That will be my key thing. Is giving back wherever it is.
“I am a loyal man and ideally it will be at the Stormers or the Springboks.
“The key thing is just to try and give my knowledge to the guys who are younger than me.
“I’ve walked the hard path and if I can make it a little bit easier for the youngsters and get them to play for South Africa, that would be golden for me.”
The last few days have been a time for reflection for Harris, but he is still a bit annoyed that he cannot play against the Dragons, a team he represented between 2014 and 2021.
“It’s interesting to think that I could have played against the old boys. I would have loved to tackle them,” he said with a cheeky smile.
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