Brown agrees new deal with Leicester
PATIENCE finally paid off for Mike Brown two months ago when the former England full-back’s determination to show he could still cut it in the Premiership yielded a contract with champions Leicester.
It was a short-term deal but such was the impact the 37-year old Brown made in five matches, which all resulted in victories to take the Tigers to third in the table and on course for the play-offs, that the contract has been extended to next season.
Brown had not played since March last year when he made his final appearance for Newcastle, less than a year after joining them from Harlequins where he made 351 appearances in a 16-year stay, but it was as if he had never been away and he scored a try on his debut against Saracens.
“I knew I could still contribute and it was about getting an opportunity,” said Brown. “It is good to be able to show that I was right in my own head and that I can still do it.
“There were a lot of dark mornings when I trained on my own at a local gym, treadmill sessions and weights to keep my size up. It was tough at times but it was about being ready if an opportunity came and it was important to stay fit for my state of mind.
“It is hard when you do not have a purpose. You go to places you do not want to and you have low moments. You have to snap out of them, crack on and stay disciplined. It is important to have a schedule.”
Brown had hoped to be playing for Newcastle this season having signed a one-year contract with the option of a second. He thought the Falcons were going to take it up only to be told three months before the end of the season they would be letting him go.
He did not bombard directors of rugby with calls at a time of cutbacks and two months into the season dozens of players become available when Worcester and Wasps went under.
“There was a time around Christmas when I thought an opportunity might not come,” said Brown. “Then I heard Leicester might need cover with Freddie Burns leaving for New Zealand and Freddie Steward and Anthony Watson in the England squad.
“I dropped Wiggy (Richard Wigglesworth, Leicester’s interim head coach,) a line. I knew him having played with him with England and said I was availHaving able and ready to contribute. He invited me for a little trial, which was a novel experience. I threw myself into it and a deal followed.”
Leicester had lost their three previous Premiership matches and dropped into the bottom half of the table. Brown feared that the Tigers’ supporters would not take to someone so closely associated with Quins but he quickly won them over with his courage and commitment.
“I came in with no expectations,” he said. “I was just happy to get the chance to contribute to this brilliant club and pay back Wiggy and the coaches for taking a bit of a chance on me.
“The club’s values marry up with mine and when you come into this environment it is easy to slot in as long as you buy into the work ethic, fight and competitive edge.
“I do not think enough has been said about the job Wiggy and his coaches have done after losing the head and defence coaches halfway through the season. It is a big task becoming a head coach for the first time, never mind midway through a campaign, and he has been superb.”
Brown has not put a date on his retirement, saying it is not something he would announce in advance. He is planning for the future by studying sports management and building up a network of contacts in various sports.
He said: “I have in mind a director of rugby role, off the field, not coaching. I am interested in the strategic side, building an environment and maintaining it. Leicester have a new head coach next season (Dan McKellar) and it will be interesting to observe how he goes about things.”