{{short description|South African rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use South African English|date=October 2019}} {{expand French|topic=bio|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox rugby union biography | name = Brent Russell | image = File:Brent Russell 03.JPG | alt = | caption = | fullname = Robert Brent Russell | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|03|5|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Port Elizabeth]], [[Cape Province]], South Africa | death_date = | death_place = | height = {{height|m=1.74}}<ref name="SAPRP"/> | weight = {{convert|83|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}<ref name="SAPRP">{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=22024 | name=Brent Russell | date=10 March 2016}}</ref> | occupation = | school = [[Selborne College]] | university = [[University of Cape Town]] | relatives = [[Shelley Russell|Shelley Jones]] (sister) | position = [[Rugby union positions#Utility players|Utility players]] | currentclub = | years1 = 2002 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Pumas}} | apps1 = 2 | points1 = 10 | years2 = 2003–2006 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Sharks}} | apps2 = 37 | points2 = 89 | years3 = 2003–2006 | clubs3 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)|CC=y}} | apps3 = 28 | points3 = 112 | years4 = 2006 | clubs4 = {{Rut|Natal Wildebeest}} | apps4 = 5 | points4 = 20 | years5 = 2007 | clubs5 = {{Rut|Stormers}} | apps5 = 11 | points5 = 15 | years6 = 2007 | clubs6 = {{Rut|Western Province}} | apps6 = 4 | points6 = 0 | years7 = 2007–2008 | clubs7 = [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] | apps7 = 16 | points7 = 27 | years8 = 2008–2012 | clubs8 = {{Rut|Clermont}} | apps8 = 58 | points8 = 85 | years9 = 2012–2013 | clubs9 = [[:fr:Lille Métropole rugby|Lille]] | apps9 = 16 | points9 = 32 | years10 = | clubs10 = | apps10 = | points10 = | years11 = | clubs11 = | apps11 = | points11 = | years12 = | clubs12 = | apps12 = | points12 = | years13 = | clubs13 = | apps13 = | points13 = | years14 = | clubs14 = | apps14 = | points14 = | years15 = | clubs15 = | apps15 = | points15 = | years16 = | clubs16 = | apps16 = | points16 = | years17 = | clubs17 = | apps17 = | points17 = | years18 = | clubs18 = | apps18 = | points18 = | years19 = | clubs19 = | apps19 = | points19 = | years20 = | clubs20 = | apps20 = | points20 = | totalyears = | totalapps = | totalpoints = | repyears1 = 2002–2006 | repteam1 = [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] | repcaps1 = 23 | reppoints1 = 40 | repyears2 = | repteam2 = | repcaps2 = | reppoints2 = | repyears3 = | repteam3 = | repcaps3 = | reppoints3 = | repyears4 = | repteam4 = | repcaps4 = | reppoints4 = | repyears5 = | repteam5 = | repcaps5 = | reppoints5 = | repyears6 = | repteam6 = | repcaps6 = | reppoints6 = | repyears7 = | repteam7 = | repcaps7 = | reppoints7 = | repyears8 = | repteam8 = | repcaps8 = | reppoints8 = | repyears9 = | repteam9 = | repcaps9 = | reppoints9 = | repyears10 = | repteam10 = | repcaps10 = | reppoints10 = | clubupdate = | repupdate = }} '''Robert Brent Russell''' (born 5 March 1980) is a South African retired professional [[rugby union]] player. He is a "[[Rugby union positions#Utility players|utility back]]" (capable of playing fullback, fly-half or wing) who plays for [[ASM Clermont Auvergne|Clermont]] in the [[France|French]] [[Top 14]]. Previously, he had played with [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] in [[Guinness Premiership|England]], and before that the {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}} in the [[Currie Cup]] and the {{Rut|Sharks}} in the [[Super Rugby|Super 14]] for many years. He also featured frequently in the [[South Africa national rugby union team|Springbok]] squad before his departure for Europe. He won 23 caps and scored 40 points (8 tries) for his country. Russell is known by the nickname ''Pocket Rocket''.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Rugby15 Exclusive: 15 Minutes with the original "Pocket-Rocket" – Brent Russell |work=Rugby15 |url=http://www.rugby15.co.za/rugby15-exclusive-15-minutes-with-the-original-pocket-rocket-brent-russell/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Victor Matfield Try against the Aussies {{!}} Rugbydump |url=https://www.rugbydump.com/news/victor-matfield-try-against-the-aussies/ |access-date=2022-04-10 |website=www.rugbydump.com |language=en}}</ref>

His sister, [[Shelley Russell|Shelley]], was also a South African field hockey international.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cook |first=Jonathan |date=2014-02-12 |title=SA women's hockey star Shelley Russell celebrates 200 caps |url=https://www.citizen.co.za/witness/archive/sa-womens-hockey-star-shelley-russell-celebrates-200-caps-20150430/ |access-date=2022-07-15 |website=Witness |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |user=brentrussell |number=471175242560573440 |title=Good luck to my sister Shells_bells_ for her Hockey World Cup which kicks off this wknd. Supporting you all the way!}}</ref>

==National team== Russell was born in [[Port Elizabeth]], but was schooled at [[Selborne College]] in East London.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} He was quickly brought up to international rugby level when he was selected for the 2002 Springboks team after making a good impression whilst in the [[South Africa national rugby sevens team|national sevens team]].{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} In that year, he scored an especially memorable try in the [[Tri Nations (rugby union)|Tri Nations]] against the [[Australia national rugby union team|Australian Wallabies]] in which he wriggled out of a seemingly sure tackle and successfully eluded several Wallabies on his way to the tryline.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} However, he has not been able to consistently break into the Boks lineup in recent years. He is a relatively small player, but what he lacks in size and strength he makes up in speed, acceleration, agility and creativity. He is considered to be one of the most dangerous backline players in South Africa for this very reason,{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} as he has the ability to score a try "out of nothing".

==Club rugby== Russell is a victim of his own versatility, with coaches unsure in which position to place him. Although a favourite with the fans and a player of outstanding talent,{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} he made few starts for the Sharks during the 2005/06 season, forcing him to make a move to [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]] where it was said he would be given plenty of game time and would also see him play at [[Fly-half (rugby union)|fly-half]] for the Stormers in the Super 14 rather than the utility role he fulfilled at the Sharks.<ref>[http://www.wprugby.co.za/default.asp?aId=195426 Western Province news report] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008163340/http://www.wprugby.co.za/default.asp?aId=195426 |date=8 October 2007 }}</ref>

Russell signed for Saracens F.C. in time for their campaign in 2007. In 2008 Russell signed for [[ASM Clermont Auvergne]] in the French [[Top 14]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/saracens/7669258.stm|title=Russell makes switch to Clermont|date=2008-10-14|access-date=2018-01-08|language=en-GB}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{Sport links}} *{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=22024 | name=Brent Russell | date=10 March 2016}} *[http://www.saracens.com Saracens Rugby Website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Russell, Brent}} [[Category:1980 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:South African people of British descent]] [[Category:ASM Clermont Auvergne players]] [[Category:Rugby union players from Gqeberha]] [[Category:Rugby union fly-halves]] [[Category:Rugby union fullbacks]] [[Category:Rugby union wings]] [[Category:Saracens F.C. players]] [[Category:South African rugby union players]] [[Category:South Africa international rugby union players]] [[Category:Stormers players]] [[Category:Pumas (Currie Cup) players]] [[Category:Sharks (rugby union) players]] [[Category:South Africa international rugby sevens players]] [[Category:Male rugby sevens players]] [[Category:University of Cape Town alumni]] [[Category:Alumni of Selborne College]] [[Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in France]] [[Category:21st-century South African sportsmen]] [[Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in England]]