Robert Charles Brown

Bob Brown was an Army officer who managed to fit his rugby in and around his military duties. An incisive running fullback with safe hands, Brown was born in Sydney but educated at Canberra Grammar School. He entered the Royal Military College - Duntroon in 1971 and graduated into Infantry Corps in 1974. Brown played his first representative rugby for New South Wales Country and the ACT in 1973.

A year later he made his New South Wales debut against Queensland at T.G.Milner. In 1975 Brown delivered a ‘sustained effort’ in what was essentially a Wallaby trial, for an Australian XV against The Rest at the Sydney Sports Ground. His performance earned him a Test debut against England in Sydney and retention for the second Test, dubbed rather infamously as ‘the Battle of Brisbane’, at Ballymore. When Brown dislocated his shoulder later that season he chose to focus on his Army career.

Highlights

1975

Brown won his first Test cap at fullback in the 16-9, 1st Test victory over England in Sydney. He held his spot for the 2nd Test, 30-21 win in Brisbane.