Shaunagh Brown: We need to be aware of differences

Shaunagh Brown is urging rugby clubs to stop treating every player the same after revealing she felt isolated early in her career.

The former Harlequins and England flanker/prop went on to win 30 international caps after beginning her sporting career in the hammer throw, representing England in the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

However, the mixed-race forward always felt different to her peers at her grassroots club, Medway RFC.

Brown told The Rugby Paper: “I started playing as an adult, so I knew who I was and who I wasn’t.”

Issue

She continued: “I never wanted to fit in and never tried to fit in. That in itself can be an issue because then you’re different, and to human beings different is often seen as a threat.

“That’s not to say I felt threatened at my local club or anything like that, but I always felt different.

“Whether it was the music I listened to in the changing room, the food I ate after games, even the sauces I put on my food to make it taste how I liked, or conversations about TV programmes and what people grew up with – people just didn’t get me because we were different.

“People don’t need to be treated the same because we’re not the same.

“It’s about celebrating difference and celebrating what everybody brings to the team. Even playing positions aren’t the same.

Physical spaces matter too. I’m pregnant now, so things like breastfeeding – is there somewhere private to breastfeed if you wanted to?

“Is there somewhere to leave buggies? Is your clubhouse wheelchair accessible?

“It’s about understanding that people are different, have different needs, and if you want your rugby club to keep growing you have to go with that.”

Up and away: Shaunagh Brown is carried off by her team-mates after her final match for Harlequins
PICTURE: Getty Images

Androcentric language

The 35-year-old didn’t play rugby until 25 after working as a British Gas engineer, commercial diver and firefighter, and said she fell into the trap of using androcentric language when describing her occupation.

She said: “I was the only female engineer in the South East at one point.

“But I’d always done sport and I’d also grown up in a boys-only family. So being in male-dominated environments was my first nature.

“There was a time when I would actually call myself a gas man to describe what I did.

“Now I hate it when women describe themselves like that. I’d be like, firstly you’re a gas fitter and a firefighter – not a fireman or firewoman – the actual job title is firefighter.”

Brown says there’s a onus on clubs to check in on their players, believing there’s equal importance between mental and physical fitness.

Human beings

The 2019 and 2020 Six Nations Grand Slam winner praises the work done by current Red Roses boss, John Mitchell, in creating a harmonious environment.

“The world hasn’t necessarily changed – it’s how we think that’s changing,” said Brown. “Do you want a group of 15 happy players or a group of 15 unhappy players?

“If you need to put it into performance terms, then do that.

“You might have a massive, strong scrum, but if all eight forwards aren’t in a good place mentally that day, your scrum isn’t going to work.

“I’ve even seen the change under John Mitchell and the way he speaks about players. He talks about them as human beings first.

“It’s about looking after the whole person rather than just looking after the player. If you look after the person, they’ll look after the player themselves.”

Right questions

She added: “At international level you’re gifted 30 incredible rugby players. Coaching rugby isn’t actually the hardest bit.

“The hardest bit is getting them to believe in themselves, getting them to put more on the line, helping them understand they can give more if they keep learning.

“To do that you need belonging, self-confidence and belief.”

Brown was at Chiswick RFC last week as part of LooseHeadz’ Roadshow and wants the attendees to take one piece of advice in particular away with them.

She added: “Ask the right questions. Don’t just ask, ‘Are you all right, mate?’ because someone will probably say, ‘Yeah.’

“If you already know they’re not all right, then that’s probably not the right question. Ask the right questions, in the right context.”