Mike Brown - News, interviews, analysis and opinion

National League 2N

/ 3 weeks ago

Hosts are over the Hill and far away!

■ By MIKE BROWN Billingham.............. 31 Rossendale............27 BILLINGHAM edged a pulsating contest, holding off a fierce Rossendale fightback to claim a...

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 1 month ago

Lions’ last bite is the taste of tight loss for Tigers

■ By MIKE BROWN Billingham.......35 Sheffield T.......31 BILLINGHAM produced a thrilling second-half comeback to edge out Sheffield Tigers, in an equally...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 months ago

DREAM TEAM

JAMES JOHNSTON, THE FORMER SAMOA, HARLEQUINS, SARACENS, WORCESTER WARRIORS, BRIVE & ROUEN PROP, SELECTS THE BEST XV HE’S PLAYED WITH OR...

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 2 months ago

Thrills are all Bill’s scintilating show

■By MIKE BROWN Billingham..............47 Otley.........................42 BILLINGHAM produced a pulsating performance to record a dramatic win over Otley in front of a...

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 2 months ago

Uzokwe hat-trick inspires DMP to victory

■By MIKE BROWN Billingham.......26 Darlington MP.36 DARLINGTON Mowden Park secured a hard-fought win over Billingham with flanker Simon Uzokwe stealing the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 3 months ago

Comeback win is all down to Myers

Billingham.............. 21 Wharfedale............ 16 ■By MIKE BROWN BILLINGHAM produced a stirring second-half display to overturn Wharfedale and claim a valuable victory....

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 3 months ago

Hoppers helped by hooker Holden

Preston G.......... 46pts Billingham....... 24pts By MIKE BROWN PRESTON Grasshoppers’ blend of experience and finishing power proved too much for Billingham,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 4 months ago

LEICESTER TIGERS

Jamie Blamire In: Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons), Tarek Haffar (Northampton Saints), Wilf McCarthy (Hartpury University), Joaquin Moro (Pampas XV), Charlie Titcombe...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 5 months ago

Success of Big Match 25 shows unity in the north

IN WHAT is fast becoming a standout feature of the off-season, the North East claimed a hard-fought 28–24 victory over the...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Brendan Gallagher

/ 6 months ago

Brendan Gallagher: Calling it a day is a tough business

Sorry is traditionally the hardest word to say – or indeed sing – but I’ve always thought “Goodbye” runs it close....

By Brendan Gallagher

Premiership

/ 6 months ago

Tigers make sure of home comforts

■ By ROB WILDMAN Leicester Tigers ............ 42pts Tries: Liebenberg 18, Bassett 32, Kata 52, Heyes 60, Rogerson 73, Hassell-Collins 77...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Columnists

/ 6 months ago

Mike Brown: I never took a backward step, I never gave up

Paul Rees talks to Mike Brown, the gritty full-back who played 72 times for his country and never let his standards...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Brendan Gallagher

/ 6 months ago

Brendan Gallagher: Alex Goode was high class under the high ball

So, almost unbelievably, it’s farewell to Alex Goode, one of the three or four best full-backs I’ve ever seen anywhere, even...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 7 months ago

Mike Brown announces retirement and calls for unity in rugby leadership

Mike Brown has announced his retirement at the end of the season with a call to rugby‘s leaders to set aside...

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 8 months ago

Good Evans! win battle for Billingham survival

By MIKE BROWN Billingham........31pts Sheffield T........28pts BATTLING Billingham boosted their survival hopes with a hard-fought win over the Tigers side in...

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 9 months ago

Ross is top of the Bill with a late try

nBy MIKE BROWN Billingham..............29 Chester.....................23 BILLINGHAM secured a dramatic victory after a tense and thrilling encounter. Chester started the game in...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 9 months ago

England need to play for the full 80, says Elliot Daly

By Adam Hathaway Elliot Daly has urged England to put their foot on Italian throats today and keep it there in...

By Adam Hathaway

National League 2N

/ 9 months ago

Scarborough proves the difference as Preston falter

By MIKE BROWN Billingham..............29 Preston G................. 19 BILLINGHAM claimed a hard-fought bonus-point win over Preston in a match marked by tight...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Features

/ 9 months ago

Young Guns – George Pearson

Tigers back three player George Pearson made his England U20s bow by scoring a try in last week’s win over Scotland....

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 10 months ago

Ref and forwards make the Bills pay

■By MIKE BROWN Billingham.............. 14 Wharfedale............32 WHARFEDALE’S forward power won the day as they crushed a Billingham pack which struggled to...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Six Nations

/ 10 months ago

England’s most memorable moments against Ireland

By Charlie Elliott With England heading to Dublin to face holders Ireland for the first round of the 2025 Six Nations,...

By Charlie Elliott

Premiership

/ 10 months ago

Leicester Tigers swamped by Gloucester revival

By Paul Rees Flying in: Santi Carreras scores Gloucester’s second try PICTURES: Alamy & Getty Images Gloucester moved to third in...

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 11 months ago

Billingham break losing run in style

By MIKE BROWN Billingham..............34 Hull............................ 17 HULL opened their account following a deft chip through which saw Billingham fumble allowing Harry...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Dream Team

/ 11 months ago

Dream Team – Dave Lewis

DAVE LEWIS, THE FORMER GLOUCESTER, EXETER AND HARLEQUINS SCRUM-HALF, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST... Forwards 1....

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 11 months ago

Harlequins are denied as Leicester Tigers snatch draw

By Brendan Gallagher Harlequins ....................... 34pts Tries: Walker 4, Murley 28, 70; Northmore 38 Conversions: Smith 5, 29, 39, 71 Penalties:...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 12 months ago

Ferreira leads the way as veterans take to the pitch

VETERAN props never quit, they just keep on scrummaging in ever increasing numbers which explains why Francisco Gomez Kodela fails to...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 12 months ago

Ferreira leads the way as veterans take to the pitch

VETERAN props never quit, they just keep on scrummaging in ever increasing numbers which explains why Francisco Gomez Kodela fails to...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 12 months ago

Schalk Ferreira leads the way as veterans take to the pitch

Veteran props never quit, they just keep on scrummaging in ever increasing numbers which explains why Francisco Gomez Kodela fails to...

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 12 months ago

It’s crossbar heartache for Evans in narrow defeat

By MIKE BROWN Billingham..............25 Tynedale.................26 IN a game where either team could have won it was Tynedale who came out on...

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 12 months ago

It’s crossbar heartache for Evans in narrow defeat

By MIKE BROWN Billingham..............25 Tynedale.................26 IN a game where either team could have won it was Tynedale who came out on...

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 12 months ago

It’s crossbar heartache for Evans in narrow defeat

By MIKE BROWN Billingham..............25 Tynedale.................26 IN a game where either team could have won it was Tynedale who came out on...

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 12 months ago

Darragh is winner as tie abandoned

By MIKE BROWN Billingham................ A Fylde........................... A BILLINGHAM thought they had weathered the Fylde storm, but Darragh had other plans in...

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 1 year ago

It’s a perfect 10 for impressive Lymm

By MIKE BROWN Billingham..............26 Lymm........................38 LYMM made it 10 wins from 10 at Billingham. The visitors were clinical in the first...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 year ago

DREAM TEAM

SAM STUART, THE NEWCASTLE FALCONS AND FORMER HARLEQUINS AND ENGLAND U20 SCRUM-HALF, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH... 1....

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 1 year ago

In-form Fisher nets considerable tally

By MIKE BROWN Billingham.............. 10 Sheffield..................45 A WOUNDED Sheffield made up for last week’s loss to Leeds Tykes. It was clear...

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 1 year ago

Late penalty try fits Bill for victors

■By MIKE BROWN Billingham..............27 Hull Ionians ........... 12 BILLINGHAM had just a little too much for their visitors as they secured...

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 1 year ago

Tykes capitalise on errors of hosts

■4By MIKE BROWN Billingham.............. 14 Leeds Tykes...........33 LEEDS showed their class as they jumped on Billingham mistakes to romp to a...

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 1 year ago

Last-gasp drop-goal missed in a slugfest

By MIKE BROWN Billingham........ 19pts Otley.................... 17pts BILLINGHAM grabbed a narrow win over Otley in a desperately tight and physical encounter....

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 year ago

This time, Mike Brown’s trip ends in smiles

By Adam Hathaway Mike Brown’s 21st pre-season came with an added sense of déjà vu as he relived his worst nightmare...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Brendan Gallagher

/ 1 year ago

Time for Steve Borthwick to prove his worth

Rugby Matters - A weekly look at the game’s talking points By Brendan Gallagher Honeymoon periods are not set in stone...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 year ago

Ben Youngs on way back as Leicester Tigers show class

By ROB WILDMAN Leicester .......... 31pts Tries: Liebenberg 17, 37; Clare 46, Bassett 68, Wand 80 Conversions: Volavola 17, 46, Whiteley...

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 1 year ago

Groark aids hosts to open the Gate

Billingham..............33 Harrogate................ 12 ■ By MIKE BROWN A CLINICAL second-half performance from Billingham saw them secure a bonus-point victory. An early...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Features

/ 1 year ago

‘It’s about being the best player you can be’

Paul Rees finds out what drives new Tigers head coach Michael Cheika and what he plans to do at Welford Road...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 1 year ago

West are best as Joe settles historic clash

North West........35pts North East..........28pts By MIKE BROWN On the charge: North West make a break PICTURES: Paul Cooke IN what is...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Paul Rees

/ 2 years ago

We will have a full deck of cards next season – McKellar

By PAUL REES Leicester's dejection at finishing well short of the play-off positions was compounded by the sight of their fierce...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Ollie helps top Tigers finish with a flourish

By MARK STEVENS Leicester .......................... 40pts Tries: Hassell-Collins 20, van Poortvliet 26, Reffell 43, Brown 54 Conversions: Pollard 21, 26, 44,...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Jeremy Guscott

/ 2 years ago

Leicester have the class to rule again

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK Leicester are not where their fans want them to be – and a minority...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 2 years ago

Brown will miss two matches

LEICESTER full-back Mike Brown has been suspended for two weeks after he swore at match officials following his red card in...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Premiership

/ 2 years ago

Leicester stunned by Bristol late show

By ROB WILDMAN Leicester Tigers .............19pts Tries: Ollie Hassell-Collins 17, 48; van Wyk 63 Conversions: Pollard 18, 63 Bristol Bears ....................21pts...

By The Rugby Paper Team