Tori Chipp has agreed that we may use this Brad Barritt interview she did for Rugby Spectator in Jun 2011. We thank her for her contribution to RugbyBanter and hope to see more of her interviews on our site. We will also try and get some of her insight into Aviva Premiership, Heineken Cup and Six Nations Rugby during the course of 2012.
About Brad Barritt
Born in Durban, South Africa, the 24 year old has settled in well at the London based (South African ahem) club Saracens since his move in 2008. Weighing in at 95kg and standing at 6ft 1”, he is your quintessential centre. His debut came against Gloucester after moving from the Natal Sharks and immediately Brad began to make his mark.
Scoring for the Saxons
Never a dirty player, Barritt is well known to have said there are always bigger boys out there (for example, the Tuilagi brothers), but Brad has always been known to be more skilful than a bruiser in his approach to the beautiful game. In the 2009/2010 season, Barritt was named player of the season because of his continually high standard of play and consistency within the squad. As a result, he caught the England selector’s eye and went on to play two games in the 2009 Churchill Cup, scoring a try on his debut against America for the Saxons.
World Cup ambitions
Working his way up through the England ranks, Barritt is certainly in the front of Martin Johnson’s mind and will be hoping to appear at the Rugby World Cup this autumn. In his first appearance for the England EPS, Barritt played against the NZ Maori, where he was a late addition to the squad due to injury and was the only Saracens player to join the tour. His selection came in the wake of criticism levelled at Martin Johnson and England selectors by Brendan Venter. Venter said, “Brad Barritt, in my opinion, is an international player. He’s got all the attributes but they’ve come up with the excuse that he’s too small. He’s bigger than me and things haven’t changed that much in ten years.”
Clearly a well supported man, Brad was again selected for the EPS this year, only having to be ruled out because of a broken thumb. Brad not only dreams of representing England at a Rugby World Cup, but outside of rugby, he has the ambition to own a property development business, which will clearly be aided by the Masters degree he is currently studying for in business.
Rugby Spectator’s Tori Chipp catches up with Brad Barritt
A very promising player has taken time out for a quick chat after his recent operation, so I get to ask him the sort of questions you don’t normally see in the rugby papers. Hope you enjoy my first piece and thanks again to Brad for being my first victim……
Tori Chipp (TC): So Brad, what’s the funniest moment that’s happened to you so far in your rugby career?
Brad Barritt (BB): After scoring against Racing Metro (which was played in incredibly thick snow!), I attempted to jump up to celebrate, only to trip over the opposing player, who was still lying there on the floor from the tackle, twice!!! The video was replayed time after time after time!
TC: With the amount of travelling you have to do, who is the best person to room up with?
BB: We tend to chop and change at Sarries as everyone gets on well! (Awwwww) Deon Carstens is always a treat, as food is never far away!
TC: Good to know you’re all happy rooming together, but is there a stand out person who is the best to travel with?
BB: That’s a hard one, travelling is not my favourite thing, so I guess someone who can pass the time. Hugh Vyvan always has a few stories for us younger blokes!
TC: Now this is one of the most important questions, who is the biggest tart on the team? (I know who my money is on!)
BB: Mouritz Botha, without a doubt, what more can I say than, any man who is brave enough to wear a shirt with himself on the front of it certainly deserves this tag!?
TC: (Wow, I really thought it was going to be Nils Mordt…. he must be naturally pretty)
TC: Another important one coming, who is the worst dancer on the team? We have all seen the academy boys ”dancing” at the Saracens ladies night so it surely can’t be any of them!
BB: Justin Melck’s as stiff as a board! And he is a big, hairy, scary man to see busting a move on the dance floor!!
TC: So speaking of dancing, what’s the best song on a night out to get you to bust a few moves of your own?
BB: It has to be Run DMC vs Jason Nevins – “It’s like that.” Loving the old school music that takes us back to our childhood, it’s always the best!
TC: Now Brad, this is something that goes on at all clubs usually behind closed doors, but occasionally it’s all over Twitter. Seriously who has the best and worst banter at Saracens?
BB: Alex Goode’s banter is out of control, guess he is going to have to take both titles of best and worst! It’s seriously that outrageous…
TC: We know a lot of you rugby players aren’t that big into reading, but if you have one what’s your favourite book?
BB: Yeh, I’m not really a big reader myself, but do enjoy the odd autobiography! Andre Agassi was pretty insightful!
TC: But we do know you love your movies, so what’s your favourite film?
BB: It has to be Snatch and Training Day!
TC: On a bit more of a personal note, do you have any nicknames?
BB: Yeh, we all have a couple mine are mainly, Dub, Buzz Lightyear, Bazza, Boxhead… Haha, take your pick!!!
TC: Ha ha, Buzz Lightyear is pretty funny! Could be a lot worse i guess!
TC: When you boys go out and once you’ve hit London town for a good night, do you have any party tricks?
BB: It’s a dance Move, which I know is not impressive at all, but it’s all I’ve got, the ”Crazy Lunges!”
TC: Do you have any favourite drinks, maybe one for function and one for pleasure? (Unless you’re like me and gin and cranberry answers both!)
BB: It has to be Gatorade for thirst and training, and Grey Goose Vodka for a night out!
TC: Well you all know what to get him now if you see him on a night out people!
TC: Now we have covered favourite drinks, what’s your favourite thing to eat?
BB: I’m going to have to say seafood. I just love Sushi, Oysters and Scallops!
TC: I love seafood too! But what would you say was the best meal you cook is?
BB: It may sound simple, but it’s an old family recipe I think I have perfected, Spagbol!
TC: How would you spend your ideal day off?
BB: I love having a day to do as I please in London, then I’d have a week off! The day would have to start with a lie in, get out of bed around 10am maybe. Then I would spend some of the day at Borough Market, especially in the Oyster bar. After that, I would play a quick nine holes of golf at the Shire in Barnet. I guess I would seriously be hungry again now so on to dinner to probably Sergios, Gaucho or Gilgameash. Then the time would come to start the pre-party with some mates maybe at Purl London or the Whistling Stop in Shoreditch, but certainly onto Aura Mayfair for the real party!
TC: For this week off, after your fun packed day in London (love Gaucho may I add, amazing steaks), what would be your ideal holiday destination for that week?
BB: It has to be the Caribbean or Cyprus!
TC: And to finish for the soppy ones out there, what’s the thing you miss doing most from your childhood?
BB: I really miss spending time with my family and close friends, in Durban, who I don’t get to see a lot of!
TC: Thanks Brad for being the first victim, you were a great sport and very insightful. Congratulations on that Premiership title and see you in Gaucho soon! P.S. Where can we get the Mouritz Botha shirts from? It’s my dream to own one?
Interview done by Tori Chipp (on Twitter @totti369).
Clearly a well supported man, Brad was again selected for the EPS this year, only having to be ruled out because of a broken thumb. Brad not only dreams of representing England at a Rugby World Cup, but outside of rugby, he has the ambition to own a property development business, which will clearly be aided by the Masters degree he is currently studying for in business.
Rugby Spectator’s Tori Chipp catches up with Brad Barritt
A very promising player has taken time out for a quick chat after his recent operation, so I get to ask him the sort of questions you don’t normally see in the rugby papers. Hope you enjoy my first piece and thanks again to Brad for being my first victim……
Tori Chipp (TC): So Brad, what’s the funniest moment that’s happened to you so far in your rugby career?
Brad Barritt (BB): After scoring against Racing Metro (which was played in incredibly thick snow!), I attempted to jump up to celebrate, only to trip over the opposing player, who was still lying there on the floor from the tackle, twice!!! The video was replayed time after time after time!
TC: With the amount of travelling you have to do, who is the best person to room up with?
BB: We tend to chop and change at Sarries as everyone gets on well! (Awwwww) Deon Carstens is always a treat, as food is never far away!
TC: Good to know you’re all happy rooming together, but is there a stand out person who is the best to travel with?
BB: That’s a hard one, travelling is not my favourite thing, so I guess someone who can pass the time. Hugh Vyvan always has a few stories for us younger blokes!
TC: Now this is one of the most important questions, who is the biggest tart on the team? (I know who my money is on!)
BB: Mouritz Botha, without a doubt, what more can I say than, any man who is brave enough to wear a shirt with himself on the front of it certainly deserves this tag!?
TC: (Wow, I really thought it was going to be Nils Mordt…. he must be naturally pretty)
TC: Another important one coming, who is the worst dancer on the team? We have all seen the academy boys ”dancing” at the Saracens ladies night so it surely can’t be any of them!
BB: Justin Melck’s as stiff as a board! And he is a big, hairy, scary man to see busting a move on the dance floor!!
TC: So speaking of dancing, what’s the best song on a night out to get you to bust a few moves of your own?
BB: It has to be Run DMC vs Jason Nevins – “It’s like that.” Loving the old school music that takes us back to our childhood, it’s always the best!
TC: Now Brad, this is something that goes on at all clubs usually behind closed doors, but occasionally it’s all over Twitter. Seriously who has the best and worst banter at Saracens?
BB: Alex Goode’s banter is out of control, guess he is going to have to take both titles of best and worst! It’s seriously that outrageous…
TC: We know a lot of you rugby players aren’t that big into reading, but if you have one what’s your favourite book?
BB: Yeh, I’m not really a big reader myself, but do enjoy the odd autobiography! Andre Agassi was pretty insightful!
TC: But we do know you love your movies, so what’s your favourite film?
BB: It has to be Snatch and Training Day!
TC: On a bit more of a personal note, do you have any nicknames?
BB: Yeh, we all have a couple mine are mainly, Dub, Buzz Lightyear, Bazza, Boxhead… Haha, take your pick!!!
TC: Ha ha, Buzz Lightyear is pretty funny! Could be a lot worse i guess!
TC: When you boys go out and once you’ve hit London town for a good night, do you have any party tricks?
BB: It’s a dance Move, which I know is not impressive at all, but it’s all I’ve got, the ”Crazy Lunges!”
TC: Do you have any favourite drinks, maybe one for function and one for pleasure? (Unless you’re like me and gin and cranberry answers both!)
BB: It has to be Gatorade for thirst and training, and Grey Goose Vodka for a night out!
TC: Well you all know what to get him now if you see him on a night out people!
TC: Now we have covered favourite drinks, what’s your favourite thing to eat?
BB: I’m going to have to say seafood. I just love Sushi, Oysters and Scallops!
TC: I love seafood too! But what would you say was the best meal you cook is?
BB: It may sound simple, but it’s an old family recipe I think I have perfected, Spagbol!
TC: How would you spend your ideal day off?
BB: I love having a day to do as I please in London, then I’d have a week off! The day would have to start with a lie in, get out of bed around 10am maybe. Then I would spend some of the day at Borough Market, especially in the Oyster bar. After that, I would play a quick nine holes of golf at the Shire in Barnet. I guess I would seriously be hungry again now so on to dinner to probably Sergios, Gaucho or Gilgameash. Then the time would come to start the pre-party with some mates maybe at Purl London or the Whistling Stop in Shoreditch, but certainly onto Aura Mayfair for the real party!
TC: For this week off, after your fun packed day in London (love Gaucho may I add, amazing steaks), what would be your ideal holiday destination for that week?
BB: It has to be the Caribbean or Cyprus!
TC: And to finish for the soppy ones out there, what’s the thing you miss doing most from your childhood?
BB: I really miss spending time with my family and close friends, in Durban, who I don’t get to see a lot of!
TC: Thanks Brad for being the first victim, you were a great sport and very insightful. Congratulations on that Premiership title and see you in Gaucho soon! P.S. Where can we get the Mouritz Botha shirts from? It’s my dream to own one?
Interview done by Tori Chipp (on Twitter @totti369).
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