{{Short description|New Zealand rugby union player}} {{Use British English|date=August 2011}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Stephen Brett | image = USO-AB - 20131221 - Stephen Brett 1.jpg | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|11|23|df=yes}} | birth_place = Waiouru, New Zealand | height = {{convert|1.85|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|85|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} | school = Christchurch Boys' High School | occupation = | ru_position = Fly-half, Centre | repyears1 = 2010 | repteam1 = New Zealand Maori | years1 = 2011–2013 | years2 = 2013-2014 | years3 = 2014-16 | years4 = 2016-17 | years5 = 2016-17 | years6 = 2017-18 | clubs1 = Toyota Verblitz | clubs2 = Bayonne | clubs3 = Lyon | clubs4 = RC Narbonne | clubs5 = ASM Clermont Auvergne | clubs6 = RC Narbonne | points1 = 80 | points2 = 83 | points3 = 102 | points4 = 15 | points5 = 24 | points6 = 54 | apps1 = 9 | apps2 = 25 | apps3 = 20 | apps4 = 37 | apps5 = 8 | apps6 = 6 | apps7 = 16 | super1 = Crusaders | super2 = Blues | superyears1 = 2006–2009 | superyears2 = 2010-2011 | ru_currentclub = RC Narbonne | province1 = Canterbury | provinceyears1 = 2005-2011 | repcaps1 = | reppoints1 = | ru_ntupdate = | ru_clubupdate = 14 December 2019 | superapps1 = 39 | superapps2 = 31 | superpoints1 = 164 | superpoints2 = 191 | super14update = | provinceapps1 = 44 | provincepoints1 = (1,003) | ru_provinceupdate = | relatives = Victor Simpson (stepfather) }}
'''Stephen Brett''' (born 23 November 1985) is a New Zealand rugby union former player. He was previously the head coach for Los Angeles Rugby Team in Major League Rugby (MLR).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2022/01/27/stephen-brett-promoted-to-head-coach-of-rugby-atl/|title = Stephen Brett promoted to Head Coach of Rugby ATL|date = 27 January 2022}}</ref>
==Playing career== Brett was a versatile back whose preferred position was first five-eighth, although he could also play second five-eighth and fullback. He is the stepson of former Canterbury and New Zealand centre Victor Simpson.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10511747 |title=Rugby: Poster boy dismisses any talk of All Black jersey |date=21 May 2008 |first=Wynne |last=Gray |work=The New Zealand Herald|accessdate=18 April 2020}}</ref> He worked on improving his goal kicking and defensive skills, which led some to suggest Brett's primary weakness is in his defence, thus impeding his progress to higher levels.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10421963 |title=Rugby: Brett stepping out of the shadows |publisher=nzherald.co.nz |accessdate=1 February 2007 |date=1 February 2007 |first=Chris |last=Barclay}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://forum.sportal.com.au/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=6868 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505235905/http://forum.sportal.com.au/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=6868 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 May 2009 |title=How good is Stephen Brett? |publisher=Sportal Forums |access-date=27 March 2008}}</ref>
===Super 14=== Brett made his Super Rugby debut in 2006 for the Crusaders but had to wait until the following season to make his mark. With regular first-five Daniel Carter being unavailable for much of the season due to the World Cup conditioning program, Brett seized his chance in the number 10 jersey and finished 2007 as the Crusader's top scorer with 90 points. He continued his good form into the 2008 competition, scoring a try and picking up the Man of the Match award in the Crusaders brilliant 54–19 victory over reigning champions the Bulls in Pretoria,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.planetrugby.com/Story/0,18259,3824_3183742,00.html |title=Bulls collapse at home |publisher=Planet-Rugby.com |access-date=27 March 2008 |date=22 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080329013450/http://www.planetrugby.com/Story/0,18259,3824_3183742,00.html |archive-date=29 March 2008}}</ref> before breaking his collarbone in a 55–7 win against the Cheetahs; the injury sidelined Brett for around six weeks.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/super14/bretts-wing-clipped/2008/03/17/1205602244764.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20110604161130/http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/super14/bretts-wing-clipped/2008/03/17/1205602244764.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=4 June 2011 |title=Brett faces six weeks with 'significant' injury|publisher=rugbyheaven07.com.au|accessdate=27 March 2008 |date=17 March 2008}}</ref> He was signed by the Blues for the 2010 and 2011 seasons,<ref>{{cite news|last=Johnstone |first=Duncan |date=11 November 2009 |title=Super 14 squads name for 2010 |publisher=Stuff.co.nz |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-14/3051071/Super-14-squads-named-for-2010/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091112041837/http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-14/3051071/Super-14-squads-named-for-2010 |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 November 2009 }}</ref>
===Japan and France=== On 29 July 2011, Brett left New Zealand to join Japanese club Toyota Verblitz in the Top League on a two-year contract.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/5206095/Stephen-Brett-signs-two-year-Japan-deal|publisher=Stuff.co.nz|title=Stephen Brett join Toyota Verblitz in Japan|date=29 July 2011}}</ref>
On 22 April 2013, Brett left Japan to sign for Bayonne in the French Top 14 from the start of the 2013–14 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/16613/8666125/stephen-brett-spearheads-new-arrivals-at-bayonne|work=Sky Sports|title=Stephen Brett spearheads into Bayonne France|date=22 April 2013}}</ref> On 17 April 2014, Brett left Bayonne as he signed for another French side, Lyon in the Top 14 on a two-year contract from the 2014–15 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_9269795,00.html |publisher=Planet Rugby |title=Lyon sign Bayonne fly-half Stephen Brett from next season |date=17 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730010142/http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_9269795,00.html |archive-date=30 July 2014}}</ref>
==Coaching== Brett then transferred his rugby skills into coaching, serving as an Assistant Coach to the now defunct Colorado Raptors and is now the current Head Coach for Rugby ATL in the Major League Rugby competition in the USA.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{sport links}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brett, Stephen}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:New Zealand rugby union players Category:Canterbury rugby union players Category:Blues (Super Rugby) players Category:Crusaders (rugby union) players Category:Toyota Verblitz players Category:Aviron Bayonnais players Category:Lyon OU Rugby players Category:RC Narbonne players Category:ASM Clermont Auvergne players Category:Rugby union fly-halves Category:Rugby union centres Category:Māori All Blacks players Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Japan Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in France Category:People educated at Christchurch Boys' High School Category:People from Waiouru Category:Rugby union players from Manawatū-Whanganui Category:Major League Rugby coaches