In just a few wild months, Noah Brown’s dreams began to come true. He went from clubless and stagnant in England to attracting suitors at the very top of French rugby, attracting the interest of the game’s thought leader Rassie Erasmus and training with Courtney Lawes, the eternal England hitman. As he sat on Zoom calls with some of the biggest teams in Europe this spring, it was hard for the 19-year-old to grasp how drastically and quickly his life was changing.
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Brown is in the second row with an attractive profile and ambition to match his size. He is 6 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 124 kg. Even in the age of protein-packed He-Men, those are huge numbers. Born in Port Elizabeth to a South African mother and an English father, he grew up in Greater London and is eligible for both nations. Brown is hungry to wear the colors of any U20 team, a point he has repeatedly made. Fresh from Oxford College, he signed Shave in ProD2 and started his first season with the club’s espoirs (in fact, academy) side.
How Brown occupied a study room in the South France is a real story. This speaks of the value of serious corruption, of course, but also of the willingness to expose ourselves and the persistence to create opportunities where there are none. Brown had spells in the youth systems London Irish and Gloucester but never completely smashed Prem Academy rugby. His little playing time for the latter meant that English clubs were lukewarm about his prospects. In their eyes, he had no storefront to display his wares.
His college coaches, Harrison Marshall and Tom Redfern, repeatedly sought to get him involved in the England under-20s, without success. When Brown’s time with Oxford ended, his options were limited. He needed a lawyer. Brown contacted sports agency Izzat and soon his highlight landed in the inboxes of all the movers and shakers in French rugby.
“I ended up playing rugby in college and was a little stuck on where to go,” says Brown. “A few clubs showed interest during college but nothing stuck and I thought my best shot at getting to Izzat was to get my name out there. They thought French rugby would be really good for me. They spoke to all the clubs in ProD2 and Top 14 and within a few hours eight or so came back very interested.
“Toulouse, Pau, Bordeaux-Begles and Race 92 showed interest. I had conversations with all of them, to talk about me as a person, what their style of rugby is and how they want to play. It was about proving to the clubs that were interested what I could do, and really pushing myself to play for England or South Africa U20s. I believe I can be at that level.”
For a child struggling to see a way forward, to suddenly sit down before these heavyweights feel beyond surreal; like an aspiring artist invited to exhibit at the Louvre. Things got even more complicated when Brown’s new agents contacted their South African contacts and got on the phone with ‘Rassie’ himself. Brown’s mother, Wendy, was beside herself. As well as her extended family scattered across Cape Town, Johannesburg and Plettenberg Bay.
“It was ridiculous, I couldn’t believe it,” says Brown. “I just had to sit there and realize what had just happened. Even my dad in the background was loving all of this. When I told my mum that my agent had spoken to Rassie Erasmus, she couldn’t believe it. It was a surreal experience.”
I looked up to Courtney a lot growing up, watching the things he does on the court, being able to train with him when I came here was amazing.
In the end, Brive played the trump card. Not only did the usual assortment of academy coaches zoom in on Brown, Lawes was hired to sell the place. His presence alone – regardless of his glowing assessment of the club – did all the hard work. When Brown flew in to check out the facilities and the city for himself, he ran with the English totem in several sessions.
“Brive really stood out because they had their entire senior staff on call and even brought in Courtney Lawes,” he says. “He said it’s a great opportunity for me to go and really focus on my rugby. There’s not a lot to do in Brive, it’s a very quiet town, but that means you’re really committed to your rugby, not going out and partying which isn’t something I’m really interested in. I like the fact that it’s a small place.
“I looked up to Courtney a lot growing up, watching the things he does on the court, being able to train with him when I came here was amazing. That was a big selling point. He loved his experience here.”
Although Brown has always been obsessed with rugby, for most of his early years there was little indication that he would make a career out of the game. He started life in the under 8 reserve team at Maidenhead RFC.
“I was nothing special,” he says. “I started to realize that you have to put in the hard work. I got picked for London Irish in the U16s, I started calling the lines and I started thinking yes, this could be something.”
“In high school and then college, I’d go to the local club and do extra skills, fitness, everything. I kicked around a bit – I’ll admit it – and I did it every day until dark, which just goes to show that hard work pays off.”
Brown’s physical potential was obvious, but his jumbled frame was in danger of becoming a liability rather than a weapon.
“I went into college rugby weighing 74kg at 6ft 9in, so very thin. I realized I had to gain weight. I spoke to some of my South African family and they told me about a South African maize porridge called miliepap. It helped me get to a good weight really quickly, my numbers went up in the ball and I showed the right size of the ball. I gained 50kg in three years.
I like being thrown in the deep end with a bunch of internationals and top 14 players. I love the style of rugby, it’s fast, intense, you’re always on your toes.
“I didn’t get a lot of minutes with Gloucester which was frustrating, and that’s when I knew I really had to break down, do the supplements, talk to my coaches and strength and conditioning specialists to show that my work ethic was higher than others. I didn’t want to rely on talent; I wanted my work ethic to be an identity.”
There was an element of culture shock in Brive. English is not widely spoken at the club or among the locals, so Brown goes through an intensive period of learning French. An hour a day, almost every day, with refills on Duolingo. Boyhood Harlequins A fan, Stoop’s former stalker Irne Herbst took him under her wing. Espors train with and against top dogs during their sessions.
“I like being thrown in deep with loads of internationals and Top 14 players. I love the style of rugby, it’s fast, intense, you’re always on your toes and I love that.
“Seeing Irne Herbst play for Quins was pretty scary when I was 16 and 74kg because he’s a monster. To be able to train and practice with him now is surreal. It’s crazy to think about. It’s just going to benefit me to learn what he does, what he’s best at and put that into my game.”
Clearly, Brown’s enormity is a point of difference and he has learned to harness his bulk in different and often painful ways for his opposition. He has a huge engine to drive such a big body around the paddock and his football skills are constantly improving. His leadership qualities will only grow for living abroad and leading a meeting in another language.
He is desperate for an opening to prove himself at national level. The family visit the Western Cape at least once a year and Brown remembers many trips to DHL Stadium to see it Stormers to play. He finds a sense of belonging on both sides of his heritage. Earnings for the England or South African age group would not tie him to the senior side of the same nation. He knows that the competition is fierce and that he needs to build a CV. All he craves is a chance.
“One thing I’m desperate to grab with both hands is an England U20 or South Africa U20 camp. That’s a big goal of mine over the next few months. I just know if I get the opportunity, to have that under my belt and prove what I can do against other guys in my position would only help my aspirations. I just need that opportunity to prove myself.
“I didn’t have a lot of experience with any set-up in England. I pushed myself to get involved in the camp. Everyone has a different journey, even coming from second team Maidenhead U8s to playing international rugby, it’s something I know I can do.”
“I’ve always wanted to progress at a young age so that I can really stand out in senior rugby, whether it’s England or South Africa and even the British and Irish Lions – and see if I can get to the top level.”
Brown’s season began in earnest in early September. He took over the cream of the crop of young talent at Clermont, Perpignan and Toulouse and hopes to see ProD2 playtime before the campaign comes out. Between now and then, the U20 squads will be named and how Brown wants to be in them. All this is far beyond the trouble he faced barely eight months ago. This was indeed a wild time; the year ahead could be even more exciting.
