Brett Harvey – a true Titan of Taunton

A week after the final Titans game of the season, Richard Kitzinger sat down for a rugby chat with retiring legend of Taunton RFC, Brett Harvey.

“I still can’t believe it but after 17 years of cheering on from the side, it will be my last game watching Brett play,” wrote Jess Harvey. This was how I found out either that her husband Brett was retiring or that she was simply going to refuse to watch him play any longer. Given that Jess has always been there to support, it was a reasonable assumption that the stalwart back five forward was drawing an end to his long playing career.

After eleven seasons with the Taunton Titans, the popular second row has reached the decision that it’s time to enjoy the game from the other side of the whitewash. We run through some of statistics, kindly provided by Richard Walford. Brett made 158 appearances for the Titans, scoring 19tries. “Is that all?” he exclaimed, sounding slightly embarrassed. His exit velocity is good though – in his final season he has played 20 times and scored 4 tries.

“I’d been thinking about it since the end of last season, ”admitted Brett. “After Twickenham and winning there with Somerset I thought ‘Do I go now? I’ve got the perfect ending.’ But it came off the back of a knee injury and missing six months of Taunton’s season. So I didn’t want to end my career without a proper Taunton ending.”

Sometimes with Brett, it’s easier to turn to his wife Jess for the detail and the emotion behind the story. “Brett always said when we were younger that ‘I hope to play until I am 35’ and at 35 –not 37 or 38 as recent reports have mentioned – he made it. Although I didn’t doubt his mental ability to continue, I never thought his body would!”

“I know how much he has sacrificed to be where he is,” Jess continued. “Many times it has been hard to continue. I’m really pleased that his last game he played at National 1 level and that it was for Taunton, a place he has been so loyal to for over a decade.”

President of Taunton RFC, Gary Kingdom, alongside whom Brett has made the great majority of his Titans appearances, reflected on that loyalty, “You don’t get a lot of players playing their whole career at one club any more. He’s the ultimate clubman.” Titans team manager, Steve Frost, joined the plaudits, “He is an outstanding player, a true gentlemen and a fantastic supporter of our youth section and the club as a whole.”

Although Brett’s post-university career has been played out in Taunton, his junior rugby wasn’t in fact at Veritas Park. His father Steve recalled, “His love and passion for rugby started as a young boy at school. Then he played in Yeovil with Ivel Barbarians, went on to play for England Colleges and studied at the University of Gloucester. ”Brett’s mother Jackie added, “Rugby being a big part of Brett’s life has helped shape him into the man he is today, of whom, as parents, we are very proud.”

Brett in turn is quick to acknowledge his parents’ contribution, ferrying him about to training and matches and supporting from the touchline. Whilst we’re on the subject of parents though, there has been a running joke in the Titans squad of late that Brett is ‘rugby dad’ to second row colleague, Sam Leworthy. “Being a younger player in the team I couldn’t have wished for a better role model to play alongside,” said Sam. “He’s taught me a great deal about being a good lock forward and a better bloke, helping me both on and off the pitch each week.”

Gary Kingdom’s assertion that Brett has been a one-club man isn’t quite accurate. There was a two-year spell as club captain at Sherborne and, during his university years, he played for Old Patesians, even on one occasion winning a game with them at Taunton. “We ended Taunton’s unbeaten league run that day,” Brett grinned. “So I knew a little bit about the club before I joined.”

As well as playing for the Cheltenham-based Old Pats, he was also making a name for himself in the backrow for the Somerset county team which brought him to the attention of the newly appointed Titans Head Coach. Tony Yapp remembered how he recruited Brett to Taunton, “I’d heard a rumour that Somerset had a decent Number 8 so I did some digging, found out who it was, got a number and invited him across. He was the first player I signed when I took over as first team coach.”

His first game for Taunton, against Redruth, was the first time the team had been branded ‘Titans’ and, as well as giving him his debut, Yapp appointed Brett captain. “I remember his debut for Taunton where they played Redruth at home. Brett was captain and as he came out of the tunnel for that first ever game I knew he was happy there, ”Jess recalled. “But I never led the side again,” reflected Brett. “I don’t know why not. You’ll have to ask Yappy.”

I did ask Yappy. He had no answer. Or, at least, none he wished to share.

Though captaincy opportunities were limited at Taunton, this has not prevented Brett taking on leadership in other ways. Steve Bell of the Friends of Taunton RFC acknowledged his running of the line-outs, “Brett has been ever consistent in his line out calls, receptions and offloads whether playing as lock or in the back row.” This was greatly appreciated on the field as Titans captain George Gosling stated, “He’s got a great knowledge of line outs which has certainty helped me out and got me out of trouble on countless occasions.”

Long-time team-mate Ratu ‘Toots’ Vakalutukali spoke of his influence in the changing room, “Brett has been a player that everyone’s looked up to for direction and leadership. He portrays what being a Titan really is ;someone resilient in his work, consistent, who always turns up no matter what the result was the week before.”

It's interesting to hear Toots qualify the values of a Titan as I put it to Brett that he was the last of the ‘original’ Titans. Ever modest, he was quick to correct me in pointing out that Sam Prior was also there that season but that in the meantime Sam has left and come back to the club. Last, then of the uninterrupted original Titans. It doesn’t trip off the tongue quite so well…

Having decided to go again for this 2022/23 season, Brett realised he needed to get himself a bit fitter following the knee injury. “Twenty games later, I’m really happy with that decision,” he declared. “I felt I played good rugby this season, really enjoyed it and got the Taunton ending that I wanted as well.”

So, if he was playing that well, why call it a day? “Body mainly,” he chuckled. “It takes a lot longer to recover. It just felt right really, especially at this level. In the wet and the mud I was all right but when the ground got a bit harder and the game a bit quicker I had to play to my strengths and let other things go on around me. But overall, I was happy with what I had done.”

Brett told Jess of his retirement plans a couple of months before the season’s climax. She spoke of her surprise at how, when he subsequently told the Titans coaches, he had seemed relieved and at peace with the decision. As for Jess herself, “I’m looking forward to having Brett around more and without hearing him still moaning about his broken body on a Wednesday after playing on a Saturday!”

On the subject of Brett’s announcement, Titans Forwards Coach Chris Brown said, “Brett Harvey has epitomised the trajectory the club has taken in the last 12 years. He’s worked tirelessly to improve his own game and it’s ironic that he’s retiring at the peak of his powers. But Brett has always put the club and team first. He’s battled back from injury and been single-minded about his approach across that long time.”

I wonder what he will miss about playing. He was quick with his answer. “It’s the couple of minutes in the changing room before going out. It’s the culmination – each time – of a week’s work and that builds through a season to be the culmination of nine months’ work.”

“We’re at a level where clubs and teams aren’t necessarily built of mates. But we are mates here at Taunton. There’s a lot of boys who’ve been here a long time now. Isaac, OT, Toots, Turbo, Mase. We’ve been together a long time now and been through a lot. Promotion, a tough year this year but the spirit’s been great throughout. But those last moments before running out on match day are special. There’s no other feeling like it really. That last game against Leeds I made sure to remember that in particular. Then it’s about running out and flying into things.”

The friendships fostered by rugby were reflected in a great many of the tributes that came in. Jake Woolmore, the Bristol Bears prop, who Brett first drove over from Yeovil to train and play at Taunton, commented, “I’ve known Brett for many years and he was the biggest push for me joining the Titans, saying he ‘knew a fat lad that could do a job at loosehead.’ I’ve a lot to thank Brett for. He’s been one of the best blokes I’ve met in the game and has become one of my dearest friends.”

Steve and Debs Bell have previously sponsored Brett and have seen every one of his Titans appearances, home and away. They added, “We find that after games Brett is always willing to engage and talk with supporters and to give an insight into how the team has performed on the pitch. He is the sort of person you would consider a good friend.” This was echoed by Tony Yapp, “Not only has Brett been a great player for us on the pitch, he’s also a good friend off it.”

“Yappy and I were talking a few weeks ago,” Brett recalled, “About how I came out of Level 7 or 8 and look at the players I’ve played with. Even this year, Mani [Feyi-Waboso, now a Premiership player with Exeter Chiefs], George Worboys, Jordan Venter, Ewan Richards, Charlie Rice… and you go back and you’ve got Joe Simmonds, Sam Skinner – a full international player –Dan Frost, it’s a long line of very good players who’ve gone on to great things. I have to say Jake Woolmore because those are the rules!”

“I was not the most talented of rugby players but to get the chance to play with those and see what they’ve gone on to achieve is a real privilege.” At this point I accused him of selling himself short. He laughed and said, “I always will.”

Back to the subject of that last game, the nail-biter with Leeds Tykes where the destiny of Titans rested also on the outcome of Esher’s home game with Rams. “The training week set the tone for what we knew we had to do,” explained Brett. “Whatever happened at Esher would happen – I’m not sure the score announcements during the game helped, mind you – but Yappy and Browner brought an extra sharpness and intensity to the week. We just knew we had to come out and do our bit. We couldn’t have been better prepared and we were absolutely ready in all aspects of our game.”

It was, personally, a great way for Brett to end his playing career. He was named man-of-the-match and it was not merely a sentimental choice. He emptied the tank and made sure that he, in his own words, “Ticked off everything I wanted or needed to do before not being able to do it ever again.”

On that topic, having told me the Titans couldn’t have been better prepared, I had to ask about the conversion kick at the end of the game in front of the posts that Brett missed. “I set myself up for that question, didn’t I?” he laughed. “That was sprung on me. If I’d known, I’d have practised my goal-kicking. The kicking tee was too high. I’m gutted it ended that way!”

Chris Brown brushed aside the kicking triviality and said, “Every player must have a last game for his club but Brett certainly went out on a high. Brett’s career has been characterised by hard work and ability. Cut him open and he bleeds black, purple and white. A one club man, we are privileged he chose us.”

He had decided to end his Somerset career last season on the high of scoring a try at Twickenham in the County Championship Final and lifting the trophy as captain of Somerset. That was a special finish and one that provided a highlight not just for Brett but also for parents Jackie and Steve and, of course, Jess who said, “In the 17 years I’ve been travelling up and down the country watching him play, I know that captaining Somerset at Twickenham (and getting a try and the win) last year was the biggest highlight, not just for Brett. For all of us, me and our children along with all our family and friends who came, watched and experienced it with us.”

On the matter of family, it was noticeable that Steve Bell, in speaking about Brett’s career, drew attention to his most faithful supporter, “Brett's wife Jess can be seenat all the away grounds supporting Brett and latterly with both his young children.”

Amidst all the tributes to him, Brett was also keen to acknowledge his wife, “Jess’ support has meant that I could play rugby. Especially in the last few years with children. She’s picked up all the work where I’ve gone off to play or coach or go on a course. I wouldn’t have been able to commit to the level I’ve played without her. So she’s owed an awful lot of thanks.”

“I get asked a lot,” he continued, “About whether Reuben and Lola will play rugby. I’m not bothered if they do or not. Jess has probably had enough worry standing on the touchline about me so when it comes to her own two children, I’m not sure she’d be behind it. But Reuben is into it. He’s nearly three and he loves rolling around in the mud and puddles. We get home and he says, ‘Daddy let’s scrum, Daddy let’s tackle’ so I imagine he’ll have a go.”

What does the future hold for Brett Harvey? “I don’t really know much else besides rugby,” he confessed. “So I’ll have to earn my living from the game.” He’s already the Head Coach of Men’s Rugby at Bridgwater and Taunton College and heavily involved with coaching in the Bristol Bears pathway too. There are other coaching plans in the pipeline so watch this space. At the start of the season he had told me that the biggest change will come at 3pm on a Saturday but how does he feel about that now he has actually retired? He answered simply, “I’ll be on the other side of the line, that’s all.”

Jess added, “Brett has been coaching for 13years alongside his playing career and he enjoys it so much. His phone has been constantly ringing since he announced his retirement so I think he will have lots of options.”

Will Taunton RFC be one of those options? “I hope so,” Brett admitted. “Coaching is a passion of mine and to do it here in an environment I’ve always admired would be great. I’ve always sold this place to other people saying you’ll not find a more professional outfit outside of the professional game.

That hope that we’ll continue to see Brett Harvey at Veritas Park would be a good place to leave things but there are still more lovely tributes to pass on. George Gosling summed up many of them, “Brett has been a great teammate to play alongside at Taunton. More importantly Brett is a great bloke, someone you can always rely on.”

The final word goes to Tony Yapp because his years as Head Coach thus far correspond precisely with Brett Harvey’s time as a Taunton Titan. “From the moment Brett joined the club his commitment to Taunton RFC hasn't wavered at all, and his attitude to training and games is a great example to the young players coming through. I can’t speak highly enough of Brett and what he has done for the club. He’s a large part of where we are today.”

Richard Kitzinger writes website and match-day programme content for Taunton RFC. By day he is a Will writer and can be contacted via richard@westcountrywills.co.uk or through his website www.westcountrywills.co.uk

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