Brad Barritt
T he midf ield st alwart is leaving a signif icant hole at Saracens
“He’s the best defensive 12 there’s ever been by a country mile”
ANECDOTE: a short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person. These are the sort of tales that can provide insight into what an individual is like away from the spotlight. Yet the lack of such stories can also give you a broader understanding of someone.
So it is with Brad Barritt. He’s waving goodbye to Saracens after making more than 250 senior appearances for the club over 12 years. Yet ask coaches and team-mates for a memorable yarn about the long-serving centre and they come up short. It’s a mark of the man, says scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth, another calling time on his Saracens days after an elongated final season.
“He’s not a massive drinker is Brad and he’s always been sensible enough, so he’s not the one being talked about the next morning – it’s a trick I probably could have learnt a bit earlier!” laughs Wigglesworth. “He’s not someone you tell tales about and he doesn’t get a huge amount of stick. That’s a mark of respect and shows he’s held in high regard. It shines a light on how much he means to everyone.”
Barritt has been a talisman for Saracens for a decade, epitomising the resolute defence the team has become known for while winning five Premiership titles and three European Cups. Yes, the honours board has been tarnished by the salary cap scandal, but it should not take away from Barritt’s contribution to Saracens’ on-field success.
“When Brad is called ‘Mr Reliable’ it does him a massive disservice,” says Wigglesworth. “The job he does he does better than anyone. He’s the best defensive 12 there’s ever been by a country mile, in terms of people I’ve played with and against. He far outstrips anyone and he’s done it every single week. It’s an underestimated quality to do it the way he does every game, and that’s not taking away from the other parts of his game. He’s a proper lead-by-example guy and puts it all on the line every time.”
It’s a point echoed by Kevin Sorrell, who briefly played alongside Barritt before becoming part of the back-room team at Saracens. He says: “As a coach, you want to know what you’ll get from a player and he’s one of those players you know what you’ll get because of his consistency. I’m pleased people are recognising what a talent he is and the impact he’s had. His value to us… You can’t put a price on it, not only in terms of playing but his leadership.”
Barritt is leaving a void in midfield as well as in terms of his captaincy and experience. Sorrell speaks of the 34-year-old’s evolution as a leader over the seasons and of how he gives others the time and space to voice their views, while Wigglesworth highlights his influence over a turbulent 12 months.
“He’s really shown what he’s all about in the last year,” says Wigglesworth. “He’s stood up behind the scenes when it’s been really difficult, which is a mark of the man and the leader he is. He took on a huge personal burden with the turmoil going on here. He’s been remarkable in good and tough times.”
At one point Barritt had a reputation for injuring his team-mates in training – “He knows no other gear than full-on,” Wigglesworth explains. But it won’t be the bumps, bruises and the 1,000-plus stitches that stand out in the memories of those at the club as he departs.
“He will be remembered by the people who played with him for giving everything every time and doing it to such a high standard, which is such an underrated quality,” says Wigglesworth.
“He will go down as one of Saracens’ best ever given what he’s achieved.
He’s someone who will forever be remembered by the club.”