Lou Brown (rugby league)

Louie Ernest Brown (20 May 1905 – 3 June 1947) was a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s. He played at representative level for New Zealand, Other Nationalities and Auckland, as a wing or centre.[1]

For other people with the same name, see Louis Brown and Lewis Brown (disambiguation).

For the current rugby league footballer for New Zealand Warriors, see Lewis Brown (rugby league).

Lou Brown

Personal information
Full name	Louie Ernest Brown
Born	(1905-05-20)20 May 1905 New Zealand
Died	3 June 1947(1947-06-03) (aged 42) Auckland, New Zealand
Playing information
Height	173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	66 kg (10 st 6 lb)
Position	Wing, Centre
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P Ngaruawahia (WRL) 1922–23 Newton Rangers (ARL) 12 2 1 42 1924–27 City Rovers (ARL) 42 2 0 130 1927–30 Wigan 130 106 0 318 1930–32 Halifax 43 33 0 0 99 1933–34 York 1937–38 Bordeaux 1939–43 Bramley Total 173 193 4 1 589 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1922–26 Auckland 7 8 0 0 24 1925 North Island 1 1 0 0 3 1926–36 New Zealand 9 4 0 0 12 ≥1927–≤30 Other Nationalities ≥1 5 0 0 15
Source: [1]

Playing career

Brown originally played for Ngaruawahia in the Waikato Rugby League competition, before moving to Auckland and playing in the Auckland Rugby League competition for the Newton Rangers.[2] He made his Auckland début against New South Wales in 1922 as a seventeen-year-old.[3] After the 1923 season, Brown went to England and played for Wigan as an amateur in several reserve games. On his return Brown joined City. Newton appealed, which was upheld by both the Auckland Rugby League, and the New Zealand Rugby League. As a result, he was suspended but after a protracted struggle was eventually released by Newton to play for City.

In 1927 he returned to England, joining Wigan as a professional.

Brown also played for Halifax and York. In May of 1934 Brown suffered a severe throat cut and was hospitalised in a serious condition. He had written letters intimating that he was keen to return to New Zealand and this injury came as a shock. The York League Football Club were unaware of his desire to return to New Zealand and said that they were happy to allow him to return to New Zealand on a "vacational visit"[4]. He did indeed return to Auckland in time to represent New Zealand in 1935. He also had further stints in France, with Bordeaux and Bramley[5] before suffering the illness that caused his death in 1947.[3]

Representative career

Brown won caps for New Zealand in 1926 against England (2 matches) and Wales, in 1927 against England, in 1935 against Australia (3 matches), and in 1936 against England (2 matches), and won cap(s) for Other Nationalities while at Wigan against England.[1] Brown was part of the 1926-27 tour of Great Britain that was marred by player discontent.[6] He captained the Kiwis in one test match against Australia in 1935.[7]

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Brown played left wing, i.e. number 5, and scored a try in Wigan's 13-2 victory over Dewsbury in the 1928-29 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 4 May 1929.[8]

County Cup Final appearances

Brown played right wing, i.e. number 2, and scored a try in Wigan's 5-4 victory over Widnes in the 1928 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1928–29 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 24 November 1928.[9]

Death

Brown died in Auckland on 3 June 1947 and was buried at Waikaraka Cemetery.[10]

References

1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
2. In Touch nzrl.co.nz, October 2011
3. Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4, p.p.77-78
4. "Lou Brown's Condition". Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 121. 24 May 1934. p. 20. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
5. Morris, Graham (2005). Wigan Rugby League Football Club: 100 Greats. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. p. 29. ISBN 978-0-7524-3470-4.
6. Baker, Andrew (20 August 1995). "100 years of rugby league: From the great divide to the Super era". Independent, The. London: independent.co.uk. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
7. BROWN, Louie Ernest 1925 - 27, 1935 - 36 - Kiwi #166 Archived 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine nzleague.co.nz
8. "Historic Wigan RL Moments: 1929 Challenge Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
9. "1928-1929 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
10. "Cemeteries database". Auckland Council. Retrieved 27 April 2014.

External links

• Statistics at wigan.rlfans.com