Retired Stormers legend Brok Harris reflects on career-ending injury

The 40-year-old was on the cusp of signing off on an incredible career spanning some 20 years, 435 matches and an untold number of scrums. But the Rugby Gods had something else in store for the prop, as he suffered a serious knee injury in the Stormers' 56-5 hammering of Benetton.

The medical cart came onto the field to collect the stricken Harris, but the veteran was having none of it.

"I knew immediately when it happened.,I just heard that popping sound," said the Roodepoort native.

"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'. She was psychic and looked into the future. It was very special."

Knowing what it meant or Harris, the injury left several of his Stormers teammates crying in the changeroom. Then in the wake of his retirement announcement, tributes poured in, humbling the big man.

"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."

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