BROWN SEASON COULD BE OVER
Star still has headaches after concussion
ENGLAND full back Mike Brown is still showing signs of concussion and may not play again until the World Cup warm-up matches in August.
Nine weeks after being knocked out in the RBS 6 Nations Test against Italy, Brown is still suffering from headaches and has taken no part in training or team meetings since he returned to Harlequins.
Conor O’Shea, Harlequins director of rugby, has ruled the 29-year-old out of Saturday’s Aviva Premiership match against Sale and he is not expected to face Bath the following week.
‘He has headaches throughout the day,’ explained O’Shea. ‘He’s frustrated because he wants to help his team-mates. What’s even more frustrating is he can’t contribute in meetings. He can’t even be in the room to help people because we’re sending him home to get himself right. I want to see Mike Brown right when he is in his 50s, not when he is in his prime.’
Brown was knocked cold in an accidental collision during England’s 47-17 victory over Italy at Twickenham in February and forced to leave the field.
He missed the next game against Ireland but played against Scotland and in the championship decider against France after which he admitted he ‘didn’t feel quite right’.
Assuming Harlequins do not reach the Champions Cup playoffs, Brown’s last chance to feature before the end of the season will be in the final- round fixture against Newcastle.
‘You can’t rule out the possibility that he might not play again this season,’ said O’Shea. ‘ Do I think he’ll be right for Bath? I don’t think so. Do I think we’re looking at Newcastle? Yes, but if he’s not right then he’s not right.’
Brown, who is not even allowed to train on an indoor bike until he is symptom free, is England head coach Stuart Lancaster’s first- choice full back going into the World Cup and O’Shea backs the player to regain his form quickly.
England play a double- header against France in August, before facing Ireland in their third and final warmup fixture in September.
‘He’ll have the World Cup warm-ups and he’ll be fine,’ said O’Shea. ‘The World Cup is not an issue at all. Mentally, Mike Brown is unflappable and will just get on with it. With your England hat on, you might say this enforced break is the best thing for his limbs. What he’s been told to do is take complete and utter rest. We normally have to pull him away from extra training but he’ll look back on this window and learn from it.
‘He will not undergo a normal return to play procedure now — it will be a more extensive procedure. It’s not about Quins; it’s about Mike. As a club, we’ve looked after the player and didn’t have a second thought about standing him down the Monday he came in. This isn’t like the old days — it’s not a badge of honour to play on any more.’
Having played only six of Quins’ last 19 fixtures, brown will gain valuable game time in the England preparation games.
It raises the question as to whether he was rushed back too early, although O’Shea does not lay any blame at England’s door.
‘I’m not remotely frustrated at them,’ said O’Shea. ‘Mike was honest enough to pull himself out from the Irish game and everyone has a duty of care towards the player.
‘Even a slight intimation that anyone does not look after the player’s best interests is just wrong.’