Rugby: Brown is named in 'team of the decade'

The 21-year-old utility back, below, is quick to praise the Currie club for a leg up on the way to clinching a full-time contract with the Capital team a few weeks ago and the feeling is clearly mutual.

At Currie's recent annual dinner, Brown was announced in the best composite side from Malleny Park this Millennium during which two national titles have been won.

The full Currie "team of the decade", as voted by club members, reads: Tom Brown, Dougie Fife, Ben Cairns, David Officer, Willie Moala, Matthew Scott, Richard Snedden, John Cox, Anton Edwards, Tim Fairbrother, Ryan Wilson, Andy Adam, Mark Cairns, Ross Weston and Jamie Thompson.

Brown said: "To get the full back slot in the best Currie team since 2000 was really pleasing. I've got a lot to thank the club for and much of the success I've enjoyed this season - the sevens call-up really is the icing on the cake - can be attributed to them."

Brown has still to start for Edinburgh but he has made a strong impression from off the bench on five occasions including wins over Leinster and Ospreys in the Magners League.

He added: "Still the season isn't finished and that is fine by me. After signing for Edinburgh I re-set my goals on getting into the sevens side.

"It's something I've long wanted to do. I've been around the squad including a training trip to Delhi as part of reconnaissance for the Commonwealth Games in 2009 without yet being called upon for an IRB tournament.

"That has maybe had something to do with the fact any time I seemed to get close there was an under-20 international or an Edinburgh game.

"However, although the closed season will be a bit shorter that is absolutely no problem and as well as aiming to help the team do well at Twickenham I'll be trying to cement my place for another run-out at Murrayfield where I've found winning to be a superb experience with Edinburgh.

"The start of next season will come round quickly, though, and it will be important for us to hold the fort while a good few colleagues are at the World Cup with Scotland. Hopefully that will mean more opportunities."

So far as sevens are concerned, Brown welcomed a run-out at the Glasgow city tournament on Saturday when the national squad took the field under the guise of the local Warriors professional team.

"It was good getting a hit out with the team. That's the first live opposition we have had and having started well and progressed to get into a shape we won the tournament.

"Previously I played sevens at Edinburgh Academy and with an Accies team last year that got to the final of the Gala tournament.

"Before joining Currie I played at Melrose Sevens for Accies and when I went out to Delhi with the training squad I learned a lot including three games against India.

"Sevens is definitely a game that suits my strength, speed and agility - as hopefully I can show."

Scotland sevens coach Graham Shiel hints that Brown could be a major strike weapon as the IRB circuit comes to its conclusion.

"I've been keen to get Tom involved with the sevens squad as I have coached him from under-18s in my national academy role. He has matured a lot this season and runs great lines."