Harvey Burnett

Harvey Burnett
Burnett in 2015
Personal information
Full nameHarvey Douglas Burnett[1]
Born(1995-08-18)18 August 1995
Died11 November 2024(2024-11-11) (aged 29)
Playing information
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight13 st 5 lb (85 kg)
Rugby league
PositionSecond-row, Centre, Wing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015 London Broncos 1 0 0 0 0
2015(loan) London Skolars 9 2 0 0 8
2016–17 Oxford 43 7 26 0 80
2018 Bradford Bulls 0 0 0 0 0
2019 Dewsbury Rams 0 0 0 0 0
Total 53 9 26 0 88
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2014–15 Scotland 4 0 0 0 0
Rugby union
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015–16 Esher
Source: [2]

Harvey Burnett (18 August 1995 – 11 November 2024) was a Scotland international[3] professional rugby league player who played wing, centre or second-row. He started at London Broncos, made the majority of his appearances for Oxford Rugby League and finished his career at the Dewsbury Rams in the Championship after suffering serious illness at the age of 23.

Background

Burnett was born in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, England on 18 August 1995. He died from cancer on 11 November 2024, at the age of 29.[4]

Career

Harvey Burnett started playing Rugby League at the age of 7, circa 2002, and signed as a junior for the Elmbridge Eagles, before being recruited into the London Broncos Academy system where he was Captain during the era Phil Jones, now the RFL's National Player Development Manager was in charge.[5]

Burnett turned professional at the age of 16 and made his Scotland début in 2014 against France.[6] before he played for the Broncos in the first team.

In his formative years Burnett did not play first team under Powell or Rea but the appointment of Grima in 2014 saw Burnett given a new contract for the 2015 season.

However Grima resigned early on in the season and Andrew Henderson was placed in charge, and he fielded Burnett for his Challenge Cup début for the Broncos away against the Leigh Centurions.[7] however that was it for him and first team level and he was released in July 2015.

Burnett spent time on loan at the London Skolars in 2015.[8]

Midway through the 2015 season, Burnett switched codes to play rugby union.[9][10][11]

In 2016, Burnett returned to rugby league and joined Oxford in RFL League 1.[12]

In 2018, Burnett joined Bradford Bulls on a one-year contract, but was released due to work commitments without making any first team appearances as he was employed by Individual Restaurants at that time.

He then signed for Dewsbury Rams ahead of the 2019 season.[13]

It was during his time at Dewsbury that Burnett was diagnosed with Small Round Cell Desmoplastic sarcoma, a type of cancer.[14][15]

References

  1. ^ Companies House
  2. ^ "Player Summary: Harvey Burnett". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Scottish rugby league continues its talent search". The Herald. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  4. ^ Callum Walker (12 November 2024). "Ex-London Broncos and Bradford Bulls player Harvey Burnett passes away from cancer". Total RL.
  5. ^ "Super League: London Broncos tie three youngsters to longer-term contracts". Sky Sports. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  6. ^ "Joel Wicks". The Holt Trust. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  7. ^ "Slick Centurions stun Broncos to equal club winning record". Leigh Observer. 21 March 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  8. ^ "London Skolars 10 University of Gloucestershire All-Golds 36". London Skolars. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  9. ^ "Surrey Sevens Success for Esher Once Again". Esher Rugby. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  10. ^ "The Rugby World Cup leaves rugby league fans with mixed emotions". The Guardian. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  11. ^ "Broncos release Burnett". London Broncos. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  12. ^ "Blues' Southern Positives". Oxford RL. 29 October 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  13. ^ "Dewsbury sign Scotland international". Love Rugby League. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  14. ^ "Wayne Bennett has failed as Great Britain Lions coach". The Guardian. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  15. ^ "London Calling – for Harvey Burnett, and the Southern Conference League". RFL. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.