Mike Brown (rugby union)


Mike Brown is an English professional rugby union player who plays fullback for Harlequins and the England rugby team. Brown joined the Harlequins senior team in 2005, having had previous youth career spells at Salisbury and Melksham, and began playing for the England first team two years later.
During his career, he has won three Six Nations Championship titles with England and one English Premiership title with Harlequins.

Early life

Born in Southampton, he was educated at Wyvern College, until aged 15 when he moved to Peter Symonds College. Having mainly played football and little rugby, he initially wanted to play fly half. Under the coaching of Mike Marchant, he changed position to fullback. This brought him to the attention of Salisbury RFC, where he moved to age 18, before a short stint at Melksham RFC.

Club career

He made his First XV debut for Quins during the 2005/06 season, scoring a try on debut in the pre-season friendly against London Irish on 12 August 2005. He was part of the England Under 21 team that won the 2006 Six Nations Grand Slam and also competed in the Under 21 World Championships later that year. Brown was discovered by Welsh rugby scout Craig Presdee-Salathiel, who contacted his friend Harlequins chairman David Morgan regarding Brown.
In the 2006–07 season, although still in a part of Harlequins' Academy side, he established himself as first choice full back. A standout season by Brown resulted in him collecting 9 tries, earning him a place on the Sky Sports Dream Team.
Mike had a successful 2010–11 season with Quins, culminating in winning the Amlin Challenge cup, beating Munster at Thomand Park on the way to the final against Stade Francais. This form continued into the 2011/12 Aviva Premiership season, resulting in a call up to the EPS squad. He started for Harlequins in their 2011–12 Premiership final victory over Leicester Tigers.
At the start of the 2019/2020 season, while still an active player, one of the bars at Harlequins’ home ground was renamed in Brown’s honour.

International career

In the 2006–07 season, although still in a part of Harlequins' Academy side, he was capped by the England Saxons in the first two matches of the year.
Brown got selected for the 2007 England rugby union tour of South Africa. Unaffected by a severe incidence of food poisoning within the England camp, Brown picked up his first full England cap in the record 58–10 defeat to South Africa. Brown was called into the England Saxons side that defeated Ireland A on 1 February 2008. On 1 June 2008, he started for England against the Barbarians at Twickenham in an uncapped match. On 14 June 2008, he started for England in their 37–20 defeat to New Zealand.
Brown vied with Ben Foden for the England full-back spot in 2012, coming off the bench in the victory over Scotland at Murrayfield. He spent the 2013 Six Nations playing on the left wing with Alex Goode taking the number 15 jersey. He was finally picked at fullback by Stuart Lancaster and was subsequently named England's Man of the Series following his form during the 2013 Autumn Internationals. Brown scored his first try for England in the 2014 Six Nations Championship match against France on 1 February 2014 and his second came a week later in a comprehensive 20–0 victory against Scotland. He then scored two tries and was named Man of the Match for the third time in the tournament in the 52–11 away win over Italy in Rome. In recognition of Brown's form throughout the 2014 Six Nations Championship, he was selected by the general public for the 2014 RBS Six Nations player of the championship award.
Brown was an integral part of the England team that won the RBS Six Nations Championship in 2016 and played every match in the 3–0 whitewash of Australia.
Brown was named Man of the Match for his outstanding performance during the England vs Wales' Six Nations game on 10 February 2018.

International tries

TryOpposing teamLocationVenueCompetitionDateResultScore
1Paris, FranceStade de France2014 Six Nations01 02 2014Loss26 – 24
2Edinburgh, ScotlandMurrayfield2014 Six Nations08 02 2014Win20 – 0
3Rome, ItalyStadio Olimpico2014 Six Nations15 03 2014Win52 – 11
4Rome, ItalyStadio Olimpico2014 Six Nations15 03 2014Win52 – 11
5Dunedin, New ZealandForsyth Barr Stadium2014 Tour of New Zealand15 06 2014Loss27 – 28
6London, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2014 Autumn Internationals22 11 2014Win28 – 9
7London, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2015 Rugby World Cup18 09 2015Win35 – 11
8London, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2015 Rugby World Cup18 09 2015Win35 – 11
9London, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2016 Six Nations27 02 2016Win21 – 10
10Sydney, AustraliaSydney Football Stadium2016 Tour of Australia25 06 2016Win44 – 40
11London, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2017 Autumn Internationals22 11 2017Win48 – 14
12Johannesburg, South AfricaEllis Park Stadium2018 Tour of South Africa09 07 2018Loss42 – 39
13Bloemfontein, South AfricaToyota Stadium2018 Tour of South Africa16 07 2018Loss23 – 12

Personal life

Brown married long term partner, fashion designer Eliza Scarlett Woodcock, the daughter of former England international footballer Tony Woodcock, in summer 2016.