Barritt to leave Sharks for Saracens
Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:22
The recently injury-prone Bradley Barritt will be leaving the Sharks at the culmination of the Currie Cup, to link up with English club side Saracens on a three-year deal.
The "midfield marshall" has also shown his skills at flyhalf and has already accumulated 58 caps for the Sharks since making his debut in 2006.
Appointed vice-captain because of his leadership abilities and organization of the backline, Barritt's season has been disrupted by injury - though is expected to start playing again either this week or following the three-week break between the Western Province match this weekend and the game against Boland on August 29.
Despite being contracted for another year, the Sharks have generously released him to leave later this year in the interests of his own development as a player.
"From a team perspective, losing Brad is a big blow for all of us," admitted Sharks coach John Plumtree.
"He is an outstanding Super 14 player, a good guy with great leadership qualities but we are not going to hold him back. He could even be back in a few years to play for us."
Turning just 22 this week, in three years time Barritt would still be a youthful 25 years of age with plenty of rugby left in him, but with the added advantages of having experienced rugby in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, in competitions like the Super 14 and Heineken Cup.
"He is still young enough to return to us and become a very valuable member for the Sharks. We are going to miss him and we all wish him well," Plumtree added.
"This is nothing to do with the Sharks," explained Barritt.
"I wouldn't consider another option in South Africa, the Sharks is my home, where I grew up, but this is a unique opportunity as a young guy to broaden my horizons.
"I want to emphasise the point that I am not turning my back on the Sharks or Springbok rugby. This is a unique opportunity for me as a young player to grow and improve by playing in different conditions," he added.
With the extended periods away from home during the Super 14 and the fact that it is almost impossible to study, Brad will also use his time in the United Kingdom to complete his business degree, where he is majoring in finance.
"It's a nice opportunity to finish my degree overseas, it's encouraged over there," he pointed out.
"Eddie Jones [the former Wallaby Coach, now coach at Saracens] and I had good chat, and we agree that experiencing rugby from a different perspective may help me grow and improve as a player.
"I also see it as the chance to grow as a person away from my comfort zone."
Barritt believes that it would be arrogant to even presume that by playing in England he would be selected to play for them - technically being eligible for selection due to his British ancestry.
"It's being presumptuous on my part to go and play over there and expect to receive a call-up to the national squad.
"I am not turning my back on South Africa, but if the opportunity arises I will obviously have to weigh up the merits of the case, the pros and cons. But in essence, I am going over to play for Saracens, that's it," Barritt concluded.
