Gordon Brown (1 November 1947 - 19 March 2001) was a hugely popular and much-loved Scottish international rugby union footballer with a fine sense of humour who played lock forward for West of Scotland, the Scotland national rugby union team and the British Lions.

He was the only forward to play in all three British Lions tours in the 1970s, and partnered Willie John McBride in the engine room of the scrum in the 1974 Lions tour to South Africa, during which he scored a remarkable eight tries. His partner at lock in the Scotland team was Alastair McHarg.

Brown was born in Troon, Scotland, later earning him the nickname Broon frae Troon. His father, Jock Brown , played goalkeeper for the Scotland national football team, and his elder brother Peter Brown also played international rugby for Scotland and captained it from no.8.

Gordon Brown died from cancer in 2001. His funeral was attended by former Scotland amd Lions team mates and opponents from the whole rugby world.

External links

• Gordon Brown in The Scotsman newspaper

• Broon frae Troon by Jeff Connor (Scotsman newspaper)