Ross Brown (rugby union)

Last updated

Ross Brown
Birth nameRoss Handley Brown
Date of birth(1934-09-08)8 September 1934
Place of birth New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand
Date of death20 May 2014(2014-05-20) (aged 79)
Place of deathNew Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight74 kg (163 lb; 11 st 9 lb)
School Kings College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Five-eighth
Provincial / State sides
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1953–68 Taranaki 144 (209)
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1955–62 New Zealand 25 (27)

Ross Handley Brown (8 September 1934 – 20 May 2014) was a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He played 16 test matches (25 total games), most frequently in the first-five back position, for New Zealand's national rugby team, the All Blacks, from 1955 until 1962.

Career

Ross Brown, one of the finest backs produced by Taranaki where he was always affectionately known as "Pascoe," ended his long, illustrious career, both for his province and the All Blacks, as something of a paradox. Brown's career which embraced 207 first class games, and well in excess of 100 for Taranaki, came in two distinct stages.

In the first, between 1955 and 1962, either first five-eighth or in the midfield at either centre or second five, he was a regular All Black selection. Yet then he was frequently criticised for being too much of a runner and not possessing a good enough kicking game.

In his second phase, from 1963 until he retired four or five years later, he was criticised, but this time, much to the bemusement of the genial Brown himself, he was constantly under attack for what was seen as excessive use of the boot.

This undoubtedly stemmed from the leading role he had as the captain and first five in the Taranaki side which held the Ranfurly Shield between 1963–65. Brown was a potent weapon for Taranaki with his suddenly found talent for dropped goals. He landed 10 alone in the 1964 season, including three in a shield defence against North Auckland.

That Brown should be regarded as primarily a kicker was ironic, particularly for the man himself. As a youngster he had always been a runner and even in his latter years would have loved to have been seen more as an attacker. Rather than being remembered as a marksman dropkicker Brown got more pleasure from the fact he scored 70-odd tries in his first class career and created many others.

In the mid 1960s Brown was regarded by his Taranaki coach and close friend, John Stewart, as being at the top of his game. Yet because he was now perceived as being only a kicker he found himself left out of All Black sides and being judged as not fitting the 15-man game being advocated by the then coach, Fred Allen.

Brown, however, had had the satisfaction of a rewarding career and a lengthy stint as an All Black, especially in the mid to late 1950s.

Brown had an excellent rugby pedigree, being the son of Handley, a three quarter in the famous 1924-25 Invincibles, and was the nephew of Henry, also an All Black three quarter on the 1935-36 tour of Britain.

From his first XV days as a boarder at Auckland's King's College (1st XV 1951–52, 1st XI captain and athletics champion) it was clear that Brown was an outstanding rugby talent and while still a teenager made his debut for Taranaki in 1953 and one year later played for the North in the annual interisland match.

Aged only 20, he received his first test cap as a centre against Australia at Eden Park in 1955. He was in the midfield for the opening three tests against the 1956 Springboks but moved into five-eighth during the third test at Lancaster Park.

He immediately placed a precise cross kick which produced a try for left wing Ron Jarden and remained at fly-half for the fourth test a fortnight later at Eden Park.

Even though in those years he was usually at centre for Taranaki, particularly during the 1957-59 shield reign, Brown was pretty much the All Blacks' first choice at fly-half for the next two or three seasons. Unfortunately, for family reasons he was not available for the 1960 tour of South Africa.

But he regained his All Black place for the 1961 test series against France playing at second five. He made the tour of Australia a year later but then dropped out of national reckoning despite continuing to be a key player for Taranaki for many subsequent years. He was named the Taranaki Sportsman of the Year in the inaugural Taranaki Sports Awards in 1965.

In all Brown played 25 matches for the All Blacks including 16 tests, one regret from his international career being the fact he never went on one of the landmark major tours of his time to either South Africa or Britain and France. He toured only twice with the All Blacks, to Australia, in 1957 and 1962, but was also a member of the powerful New Zealand Under 23 team that toured Hong Kong and Japan in 1958.

His brother Don represented Taranaki 1954 and King Country 1957 whilst his son Andrew played for Ma.nawatu 1985 and Taranaki 1986. [1]

The Ross Brown Shield competition was first played for in 1976 by teams from the four home zones of the Northern Taranaki Primary Schools Rugby Union. Dave McColl, at the time the Primary Schools Rugby Union Chairman and TRFU executive member and Brown, who donated the trophy, were instrumental in putting together the foundations of the event which has grown into an important part of the rugby calendar. [2]

Brown died in New Plymouth on 20 May 2014. [3] [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conrad Smith</span> New Zealand rugby union coach and player

Conrad Gerard Smith is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player, who played predominantly at centre. He captained the Hurricanes in Super Rugby, and played for New Zealand from 2004 until 2015. He was a key member of New Zealand's 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup winning teams. Following the 2015 World Cup he retired from international rugby and took up a contract with Pau in France, before retiring in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ali Williams</span> Rugby player

Alexander James Williams is a retired New Zealand professional rugby union player who playled as a lock most notably for Super Rugby club Blues and the New Zealand national team.

Taranaki Rugby, previously the Taranaki Rugby Football Union, is the governing body for rugby union in Taranaki, New Zealand; Taranaki is a region of New Zealand that covers areas in the districts of New Plymouth and South Taranaki. Established in 1889, they represent the Mitre 10 Cup side, Taranaki Bulls, and Farah Palmer Cup side, Taranaki Whio. It is also affiliated with the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are amber and black and they play their home games at TET Stadium & Events Centre in Inglewood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whanganui Rugby Football Union</span> Rugby team

The Whanganui Rugby Football Union (WRFU) is the governing body for rugby union in the Whanganui region of New Zealand. The Whanganui Rugby Football Union was formed in 1888.

Mark Powell Robinson is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer. He played nine Test matches for the All Blacks between 2000 and 2002. Playing mainly at centre, Robinson played provincial rugby for Taranaki, Wellington and later Canterbury. In Super 12 rugby he played for the Crusaders, with whom he won two titles: in 2000 and 2002. It was while playing with the Crusaders that he played his only international rugby, two Tests in 2000 and seven in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurt Baker</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Kurt Baker is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a fullback or wing for Old Glory DC in Major League Rugby (MLR).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Todd</span> Rugby player

Matthew Brendon Todd is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player. He is currently an assistant coach for the Crusaders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beauden Barrett</span> New Zealand rugby union player (born 1991)

Beauden John Barrett is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a fly half for Japan Rugby League One club Toyota Verblitz and for the New Zealand national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waisake Naholo</span> Rugby player

Waisake Ratunideuba Naholo is a New Zealand rugby union player. He previously played for the All Blacks Sevens and on the wing position for London Irish. In May 2022 he signed with Rugby New York, who play in the Major League Rugby competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Franklin (rugby union)</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Tom Franklin is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a lock for Taranaki in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and the Western Force in Super Rugby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anton Lienert-Brown</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Anton Russell Lienert-Brown is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for Super Rugby club Chiefs and the New Zealand national team.

Beethoven Algar, commonly known as Beet, was a New Zealand rugby union player. A back who played in any position from first five-eighth to wing, Algar represented Wellington at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, in 1920 and 1921. He played six matches for the All Blacks, including one as captain, but did not appear in any internationals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Havili</span> NZ international rugby union player

David Kaetau Havili is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for Super Rugby club Crusaders and the New Zealand national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Handley Brown</span> Rugby player

Handley Welbourn Brown was a New Zealand rugby union player. A centre three-quarter, Brown represented Taranaki at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1924 to 1926. He played 20 matches for the All Blacks, scoring 35 points, but did not appear in any internationals.

Mitchell Brown is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a lock or loose forward for Taranaki in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Chiefs in the international Super Rugby competition.

James Taylor Lambie was a New Zealand rugby union player who represented the All Blacks between 1893 and 1894. His position of choice was forward. Lambie did not play in any test matches as New Zealand did not play their first until 1903.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Riccitelli</span> Rugby player

John Ricky Riccitelli is a New Zealand professional rugby union footballer who plays as a hooker for New Zealand franchise Blues. In his youth career, he was selected to play in the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championships for New Zealand and took part in Francis Douglas Memorial College first XV.

Pita Gus Nacagilevu Sowakula is a Fijian professional rugby union footballer who plays as a flanker for New Zealand franchise Chiefs. In his youth career, he played basketball and was selected in the 2012 FIBA Oceania Under 19 Championships for Fiji.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neil Wolfe</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Thomas Neil Wolfe is a former New Zealand rugby union player, businessman, sports administrator and local politician. He played 14 matches, including six Tests, for the New Zealand national rugby team, the All Blacks, between 1961 and 1968. He was active in sports administration, including as president of the Taranaki Rugby Union and the Taranaki Jockey Club, and served as a New Plymouth district councillor between 2004 and 2010.

Iritana Hohaia is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays halfback for Taranaki provincially and for Hurricanes Poua professionally.

References

  1. "Stats | allblacks.com". stats.allblacks.com.
  2. "Taranaki Rugby - Baker Tilly Staples Rodway Ross Brown". www.trfu.co.nz. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  3. "Legendary All Black inside back Ross Brown dies". Stuff. 20 May 2014. Archived from the original on 19 May 2014.
  4. "Brown 'integral part of fabric of Taranaki rugby'". Stuff. 20 May 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2022.