Brown agrees new deal with Leicester

PATIENCE finally paid off for Mike Brown two months ago when the former England full-back’s determination to show he could still cut it in the Premiership yielded a contract with champions Leicester.

- PAUL REES

It was a short-term deal but such was the impact the 37-year old Brown made in five matches, which all resulted in victories to take the Tigers to third in the table and on course for the play-offs, that the contract has been extended to next season.

Brown had not played since March last year when he made his final appearance for Newcastle, less than a year after joining them from Harlequins where he made 351 appearances in a 16-year stay, but it was as if he had never been away and he scored a try on his debut against Saracens.

“I knew I could still contribute and it was about getting an opportunity,” said Brown. “It is good to be able to show that I was right in my own head and that I can still do it.

“There were a lot of dark mornings when I trained on my own at a local gym, treadmill sessions and weights to keep my size up. It was tough at times but it was about being ready if an opportunity came and it was important to stay fit for my state of mind.