Tony Brown (rugby player)

Infobox Rugby biography
name = Tony Brown


caption =
birthname = Tony Eion Brown
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1975|1|17
placeofbirth = Balclutha, New Zealand
dateofdeath =
placeofdeath =
height = height|m=1.83
weight = convert|86|kg|stlb|abbr=on
ru_position = Fly-half (First five-eighth)
allblackid = 96
allblackno = 980
ru_amateuryears =
ru_amateurclubs =
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalteam = New Zealand
ru_nationalyears = 1999-2001
ru_nationalcaps = 18
ru_nationalpoints = (171)
ru_ntupdate = 1 Sept 2006
ru_clubyears = 2005–2008
ru_proclubs = Sanyo Wild Knights
ru_clubcaps = 30
ru_clubpoints = (380)
ru_clubupdate = 26 Nov 2007
ru_currentclub =
super14 = Highlanders
Sharks
Stormers
super14years =1996-2004
2006
2008
super14caps =83
8
N/A
super14points = (817)
(73)
super14currentclub =
super14update = 26 Nov 2007
ru_province = Otago
ru_provinceyears =1995-2004
ru_provincecaps =71
ru_provincepoints = (847)
ru_provinceupdate =9 September 2006
ru_sevensnationalyears =
ru_sevensnationalteam =
ru_sevensnationalcaps =
ru_sevensnationalpoints =
ru_sevensupdate =
ru_coachclubs =
ru_coachyears =
ru_coachupdate =
other = yes
occupation =
family =
spouse =
children =
relatives =
school = King's High School, Dunedin
university = University of Otago

Tony Eion Brown (born January 17, 1975 in Balclutha, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer, playing mainly at first five-eighth (fly half).

Early Life and Career

Brown's early life was spent in the South Otago towns of Balclutha and Kaitangata, New Zealand, but he moved to Dunedin during his high school years, attending King's High School and playing for Harbour Rugby Club.

He played his provincial rugby for Otago, and also represented the local Highlanders Super 12 rugby franchise, for whom he played as first choice goal-kicker from 1996 until his move overseas in 2004. During his Highlanders career, he scored 817 points in 83 matches, to go alongside his 847 points in 71 matches for Otago. In Otago, he flatted with fellow Highlanders and All Blacks , Anton Oliver and Simon Maling.

All Black

Brown was first picked for the All Blacks in 1999, making his debut in a match against New Zealand A on June 11, before making his international debut against Samoa at Albany Stadium exactly a week later. Brown played a total of 18 test matches, scoring 171 test points (mostly with the boot, although he did score five tries) between then and his final test against Australia in August 2001. His international career included matches for New Zealand at the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

Brown's goal-kicking feats enabled him to score over 30 points in three separate internationals (against Italy in 1999, Samoa in 2000, and Tonga in 2001) - the only player to have achieved this. Despite this he was never a member of the regular starting line-up, the fly-half position being held by Andrew Mehrtens during that period.

ubsequent Playing Career

Japan

He went on to play three seasons (2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08) for the Sanyo Wild Knights in the Top League in Japan.

In the 2005-07 season he played in eight games and scored 98 points.

In the 2006-07 season he played in ten games and scored 145 points.

In the 2007-08 Top League (fifth season) he played 12 times and helped Sanyo to an unbeaten run of 13 wins in the season (the first time this had been achieved), to runner-up in the Microsoft Cup and All-Japan champion. He was the third highest points scorer with 137, and voted unanimously to the stand off slot in the Best Fifteen of the league. He was voted MVP by the fans in a J Sports poll.

He also played in friendlies for the Classic All Blacks against Japan XVs on May 9 and 12, 2007 and intends to return to Sanyo for the 2008-09 season.

outh Africa

In 2006 Brown also played Super 14 in South Africa with the Sharks.

He will return to South Africa for the 2008 Super 14 season, having signed with the Stormers.

External links

*All Blacks|id=96|name=Tony Brown
* [http://www.rugbymuseum.co.nz/ABProfilee.asp?level1=All_Blacks&Level2=ABC&IDID=96 New Zealand Rugby Museum article on Brown]