Richard Norman Brown

Hailing from North-West Queensland, Richard Brown attended the prestigious St. Joseph's Nudgee College and played in the school’s 1st XV alongside fellow future Wallabies Hugh McMeniman and Rocky Elsom. A confrontational backrower, Brown represented his country at school, aged and 7s, before Western Force coach John Mitchell convinced him to leave his home state, and a scholarship with the Reds, and move to the West. He made his Super Rugby debut in 2006 and went on to establish himself as a first choice No.8 for the fledgling franchise.

In 2008, Brown was rewarded for his consistent Super Rugby performances and delivered an eye-catching Test debut against New Zealand in Brisbane. Brown played a total of 23 Tests for Australia before shoulder surgery in 2011 ruled him out of contention for a spot in the Wallabies’ Rugby World Cup squad. In 2013 the foundation Western Force back-rower announced he had signed a two-year contract with Honda Heat in the Japanese Top League.

Highlights

2001

Represented Australian Schools against Samoan Schools and was chosen in the squad to tour Japan, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

2003

Selected in the Australian squad for the second-annual IRB U21 Rugby World Championships in England.

2003/04

Represented Australia in the IRB Sevens World Series.

2004

Selected in the Australian squad for the third-annual IRB U21 Rugby World Championships in Scotland.

2008

Brown won his first Test cap off the bench when he replaced Wycliff Palu at No.8 in the 24-28, 3rd Test loss to New Zealand in Brisbane. He won his first run-on Test cap seven weeks later when picked at No.8 in the 14-19 loss to New Zealand in Hong Kong. Brown picked up three more caps on the end-of-season Spring Tour.

2009

He won seven caps although six of those came in the opening seven internationals of the season.

2010

Brown earned a further 11 caps, eight of which were won successively as a starting No.8, in what proved to be his final season of Test football