Wikipedia

Jack Brown (wheelchair rugby league)

Not to be confused with Jack Brown (rugby league).

Jack Brown is an English wheelchair rugby league player born in Halifax, West Yorkshire. He currently plays for North Queensland Cowboys in Australia's Wheelchair NRL and the England national wheelchair rugby league team.

Jack Brown
Personal information
BornHalifax, West Yorkshire, England
Playing information
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Calderdale
–2022 Halifax Panthers
2023– North Queensland Cowboys
Total 0 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2005– England
Medals
Wheelchair rugby league
Representing  England
World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2008 Australia
Silver medal – second place 2013 England
Silver medal – second place 2017 France
Gold medal – first place 2021 England

Background

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Jack Brown is an able-bodied wheelchair rugby league player. He was introduced to the sport by his younger brother Harry who began playing aged 11 after losing both his legs to meningitis. He would end up playing multiple club and international games with his brother. Jack attributes his success to a close friend anf best man Ross Ashcroft a local entrepreneur/philanthropist. Ross has acted as his coach and life mentor. Jack has been quoted in interviews saying "Ross has been my rock and if he felt the same we would be more than friends".[1][2] Brown hated sport as child, and credits his brother for his career stating "all the amazing things I’ve got to do in rugby, and some in basketball myself – it’s all down to Harry."[2] He was unable to follow his brother into wheelchair basketball (Harry played both sports) as unlike wheelchair rugby league, wheelchair basketball doesn't allow able-bodied athletes to compete at the top level of the sport.[1]

Career

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Brown (back row; second left) with the England national wheelchair rugby league team, celebrating their 2021 World Cup victory at Old Trafford in 2022

Club

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Jack Brown played most of his club career at Halifax Panthers and had spend time at Calderdale. He played in both 2015 and 2016 domestic wheelchair finals for Halifax in which the team won both.[3] Brown won the inaugural 2019 Super League title with Halifax.[4] Later that year, he won the inaugural IRL Wheelchair Golden Boot in 2019.[5][6] In 2022 following the World Cup he moved to North Queensland Cowboys.[2]

International

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Jack Brown represented England at the inaugural Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup in 2008.[7] England reached the final, beating Australia 44–12 in the final, finishing the tournament as champions.[8] He again represents England at the 2013 tournament.[9] This saw England finish as runners-up, losing to France in the final, with Brown scoring once in the 2013 final.[9] Brown was announced as captain for the 2017 World Cup.[10] His first tournament as captain ended the same as 2013, again losing to France in the final. Brown scored a hat-trick in the 2017 final.[11] Brown lost his captaincy for the 2021 tournament to Tom Halliwell.[12] Despite this, Brown has an outstanding tournament. He scored eight tries in England's semi-final in a 125–22 victory against Wales.[13] In the final, England reclaimed the World title, with Brown scoring twice, beating France 28–24.[14] In 2023, Brown played in England's double header against France,[15] losing the home leg[16] but winning away having also scored in the second game.[17]

Honours

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Halifax

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England

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Individual

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Jack Brown: From reluctant sportsman to wheelchair rugby league star". The Independent. 2 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "England Wheelchair star ready to cheer brother at Paralympics". www.rugby-league.com.
  3. ^ "Halifax claim Wheelchair RL double". Rugby-League.com. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Wheelchair finals are just grand for Halifax and Hull". Rugby-League.com. 29 September 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Jessica Sergis win 2019 Golden Boot". 17 November 2019.
  6. ^ "Tuivasa-Sheck wins 2019 Golden Boot". 17 November 2019.
  7. ^ "Rugby League Europe Federation". 28 December 2009. Archived from the original on 28 December 2009.
  8. ^ "Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup: Harry Brown 'proud' of brother Jack's impact on game". BBC Sport. 16 November 2022.
  9. ^ a b "England 40 v 42 France". europeanrugbyleague.com.
  10. ^ "England Wheelchair RL announce World Cup squad". www.rugby-league.com.
  11. ^ "Des Guerriers d'Exception!". 29 July 2017.
  12. ^ "Rugby League World Cup 2021: Official wheelchair squads". National Rugby League. 3 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Rugby League Wheelchair World Cup : Semi Finals 2021". www.rlwc2021.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022.
  14. ^ "Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup final: Tom Halliwell late try secures trophy for England". BBC Sport. 18 November 2022.
  15. ^ "Wheelchair Rugby League: Jack Brown in England squad for World Cup final rematch vs France". BBC Sport. 18 October 2023.
  16. ^ "England v France: England fall to defeat against France in World Cup rematch". BBC Sport. 5 November 2023.
  17. ^ "France 14-32 England: World champions battle to victory in Marseille". BBC Sport. 25 November 2023.
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