Former Melksham player, Mike Brown, is World Cup star

A FORMER Melksham rugby player was ITV’s man-of-the-match in England’s World Cup opener against Fiji last week.

Full-back Mike Brown was the home side’s star player, scoring two tries in England’s 35-11 victory over the Pacific island team at Twickenham. During the game he ran 172 metres with the ball in hand – over 100m further than anyone else on the field.

Brown, 30, currently plays for London premiership side Harlequins, but played fly-half in Melksham’s youth team when he was a teenager.

Melksham RFC coaching coordinator, Mark Simmons, remembers Mike’s time at the club. Mark said, “Mike played at the club from when he was about 14 to 16 under coach Martin Sloane, and some of the current first team used to play with him.

“It was absolutely brilliant to see him play so well for England. We were massively surprised though – he was a very good player and was always in the team, but he was never a star at Melksham. Other guys were called up to play for the county teams but Mike wasn’t.

“It’s great to have watched him do so well at Harlequins and England, and we say to the young players that you don’t have to be the best when you’re 14 years old to become a great player.

“He’s a shining example to our young players who maybe aren’t picked to play for Wiltshire – they may not be the star players, but everyone develops at different rates and there’s still so much they can achieve.”

Mike Brown now has 40 caps for the England Rugby Squad, and his hoping to make the team for England’s next fixture against Wales on Saturday 26th September.

Melksham Rugby Club is based near Melksham House and has teams for men, boys and girls. For more information about getting involved with the club, go to www.melkshamrfc.co.uk.