Brown wants to be involved in rugby's future

Decorated former England international Mike Brown says he wants to try to influence the future of rugby union by staying involved in the game after his retirement.

When the 39-year-old Leicester Tigers full-back announced that he would be calling time on his 20-year professional career at the end of the season, he did so by making a plea to powerbrokers at all levels to better "protect and grow" the sport.

He also called on other figures, including former players and media personalities, to help the sport.

When asked by BBC Radio Leicester if he would put himself forward to contribute to how rugby union was run, he replied: "I'd love to be involved in discussions if people thought that was of value.

"Honestly, if there as an opportunity to stay involved at different levels, whether that's with a voice or not, I'd definitely be open to that.

"I've stayed in the game for this long because I love it. And like I said in the letter that I wrote, I want people to have the opportunities that I've had. But we can't offer that if we don't get it back to where it should be."

The financial state of Premiership rugby, following the demise of three top-flight clubs in recent years, and the civil war between English rugby chiefs and grassroots clubs that continues to simmer are among the issues Brown has referred to.

"What I was referencing in my announcement is making sure that leaders at all levels in our game, be it club owners, PRL [Premiership Rugby Limited] leaders, world rugby leaders, RFU [Rugby Football Union], everyone and anyone that has a leadership position come together and start making decisions for the best of the game," Brown said.

"Get in a room and start having conversations, communicate, start being innovative, creative and start looking at how we can get our game back to level it should be for what a great game it is."

Rugby union has given Brown "so many incredible moments" in a career that saw him earn 72 caps for England and land two Premiership titles and a European Challenge Cup with Harlequins.

His 280 Premiership games, amassed over 16 years with Quins before going on to play for Newcastle Falcons and seeing out his career with Tigers, has him fourth on the list of most appearances in the competition.

For all he has done, and games and trophies won, there is one moment above all else that he holds dear.

"For me, a moment that will always stand out was my 300th game for Harlequins when running out with my son," he said.

"To do that is always going to live in the memory. To run out with him, and I guess allow him to experience what I've been lucky enough to experience so many times was special."

That milestone game was in 2018 when Brown was 33.

He remained with Harlequins until 2021, from which point he was determined to show that he still had more to offer as a player.

He had a solitary season with Newcastle, then spent 10 months without a club before he was handed a surprise career lifeline by Tigers in January 2023.

The try that he scored on his Leicester debut came with the message that age was no barrier.

What started a short-term injury cover for the Six Nations has turned into more than two years at Mattioli Woods on Welford Road.

"At 36 people would have thought I'm done, on the scrapheap, what can he offer? I guess in a way I proved to people that no matter what age, you have a bit to offer," he said.

"I knew I was still able to contribute, I felt good physically and mentally, I was still motivated and energised by rugby."

And while Brown says he is "in a lucky place" where he has not "physically broken down" as he approaches his 40th birthday, he says enough has changed to know it is the right time to retire.

The two-and-a-half-hour commute from his home in Surrey to get to Leicester and the mental demands of being an elite sportsperson are what prompted the decision at the end of a campaign in which he has made just five appearances.

"It's the mental grind of doing the right things day in and day out," Brown said.

"I didn't want to be that player and I can't be that player or person that just grinds though taking a pay cheque and is happy to be turning up for some training.

"It was becoming very tough over the last few months to keep doing that."