Mike Brown returns with a bang - and a pop at those who wrote him off
Mike Brown made a match-winning return to top-flight rugby - then took aim at those who wrote him off as too old.
In his first Premiership start for 11 months the former England fullback rolled back the years on his Leicester debut.
Two seasons after Harlequins gave up on him because of his age the 37-year old inspired his new side to a priceless victory.
Brown said: “It sends a message to people not to write you off because of age. One of my clubs did that and it hurt.
“It’s tough that people use age as an excuse, it’s as if they’re desperate for you to give up and crawl away and die somewhere.”
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Brown scored a try and had a hand in two more as Tigers roared into a 21-point lead - then led the defensive stand as Sarries threatened to steal victory at the death.
Brown scores for Tigers (Getty Images)Afterwards he dedicated his player of the match award to wife Eliza, for her support through the dark times when he trained alone and did not know when or if his next chance would come.
“I’ve been out of the game,” he continued. “But It’s good to remind people I can still do it in what is the top league in the world in my opinion.
“There’s so many [older] athletes across sport I could mention. Thiago Silva, James Roby, LeBron James, Tom Brady, Jimmy Gopperth here.
Alex Lewington is tackled by Leicester Tigers' Hanro Liebenberg (PA)“We are professional throughout our career and it’s paying dividends. We work unbelievably hard every single day, we don’t just turn up and have a jolly with our mates.”
Not just Brown either as Leicester boss Richard Wigglesworth, who himself was playing into his 40th year, sent out surely the oldest back line the Premiership has seen and was rewarded for his faith.
Gopperth, 39, Chris Ashton, 35, and Ben Youngs, 33, all suited up and followed the lead set by the man at the back.
Harry Potter of Leicester Tigers breaks past Rotini Segun (Getty Images)Brown bossed it from the moment he took his first high ball in the opening minute.
He was there in support as Jasper Wiese broke the Saracens line for Handre Pollard to score. Then straight back in the thick of it as ran back a high ball for Cameron Henderson to bag Leicester’s second.
What directors of rugby up and down the land must have thought watching this player whose CV had sat all year gathering dust on their desks.
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Cameron Henderson of Leicester Tigers tackles Alex Goode (Getty Images)Their discomfort became more acute just short of the half hour when Leicester attacked again through Gopperth and Ashton.
Brown made himself available, cutting in from the right and linking with Ashton before crossing on a perfect line and punching the air with his right fist.
Saracens rallied, with Alex Lewington going the length, but Brown led the manning of the barricades and Leicester held on.
LEICESTER - Tries: Pollard, Henderson, Brown. Cons: Pollard 3. Pen: Pollard.
SARACENS - Tries: Mawi, Lewington. Con: Goode. Pens: Goode 2.
Sale's England fly half George Ford (Getty Images for Sale Sharks)George Ford was last night recalled to England’s Six Nations squad - just half an hour into his injury comeback.
The Sale fly-half ended eight months on the sidelines when coming off the bench at Northampton on Saturday.
He showed no signs of the ruptured ankle that had delayed his Sale debut all season - and almost immediately got a call from Steve Borthwick.
BAGSHOT, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: George Ford of England reacts during a training sesssion at Pennyhill Park on February 22, 2022 in Bagshot, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)Ford, 29, will join Owen Farrell and Marcus Smith in the fly-half brains trust preparing to face Wales away on Saturday.
Missing is Ford’s clubmate Manu Tuilagi, sent off for dangerous play in the same match, while the knee injury Ollie Hassell-Collins suffered against Italy has ruled out the London Irish wing.
But senior forwards Tom Curry and Courtney Lawes, both of whom have captained England, are back from injury for the trip to Cardiff.
The pair checked into camp last night alongside uncapped back duo Fraser Dingwall and Cadan Murley.
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