Stormers legend Brok Harris retires with 'a happy heart and no regrets' after horror knee injury

The moment Brok Harris went down with a knee injury in his team’s United Rugby Championship clash against Benetton, he knew his career of almost 500 matches had come to an end.

The 40-year-old Stormers legend said a “popping noise” from his knee signalled the final whistle, but as untimely as the injury may have been, he retires with a happy heart.

“When it happened, I knew immediately it was very serious,” the jovial prop said. “I heard the popping sound — the knee felt like jelly and was very loose. The doctor said, ‘Let’s put you on the cart,’ but I knew it was all over for me as a player, and I was determined to walk off the field.

“I said, ‘No, doc, if this is my last action as a player after all these years, I’m walking off the field.’ As I started walking, I thought, ‘What am I doing?’ But I stuck it out and walked off with my head held high and satisfaction in my heart.”

Harris added that he might have tempted fate recently when he joked with teammates about never having suffered a knee injury.

“I said I’d never had knee injuries. I was very lucky. I’d had issues with ankles and shoulders, so to finish with a knee was bizarre.

“But in the bigger picture, I’m privileged not to have had too many injuries, and I’m thankful for this long career — I have no regrets,” he said.

“The last six months or so have been unbelievable as a player/coach. There was no pressure on me to sign for another season because I knew it would be my last,” Harris explained. “The only tough part was getting up for double training sessions — the playing was the easy part!

“It has been very special,” he continued.

“I hadn’t expected to play much and thought I’d be coaching more, but with Steven Kitshoff having to retire and Frans [Malherbe] going down, they needed me.”

Harris played 93 matches for the Stormers in his first stint in Cape Town (2007–2014), and 120 for Western Province. Since rejoining the Stormers in 2021, he has added a further 56 appearances.

“I’ve been blessed,” he said.

“The last four years at the Stormers have been a pleasure. There’s been no pressure, I had nothing to prove to anyone, and I could just go out with the boys and enjoy my rugby.”

In between his Stormers stints, Harris played 143 games for the Dragons — ironically, the Stormers’ opponents this Saturday — making him a legend in two corners of the rugby world.

“The circle would have been neatly completed with a game against my old Dragons mates, but it wasn’t meant to be,” Harris smiled.

“More important is that it’s a vital game for the Stormers — and I can still catch up with the Dragons guys for a drink afterwards.”