Gordon Brown

Published on Thursday 2 May 2002 01:00

Simply one of Britain’s best post-war lock forwards, ‘Broon frae Troon’ was the most important member of what may have been Scotland’s greatest front five.

The complete working forward, Gordon Brown was a lesson in the second-row's game - a fine line-out player, solid and powerful in the scrum, a supreme rucker and mauler and, as with all great players, an inspiration to those he played with.

Brown played thirty times for Scotland, winning his first cap against South Africa in 1969, but perhaps the most striking indication of his ability is his record for the British Lions. A key member of John Dawes’ 1971 tour party to New Zealand, Brown was the only forward to go on all the Lions tours in the Seventies. Partnering Willie John McBride in the second row, he was an crucial personality both on and off the field – as huge and hard in combat as the great Irishman, he was also a vital influence in developing the quick camaraderie and team spirit that touring teams depend upon. On the 1974 tour of South Africa Brown scored a remarkable eight tries, including two in the Test matches, even more astonishing in that he never scored a single try for Scotland.

Perhaps the touring brought out the best in Brown, certainly it allowed him to develop his fitness in a way which was impossible during the domestic season. This should not suggest that Gordon Brown ever gave any less than one hundred percent effort for his home country – he simply wouldn’t have known how.