Mike Brown becomes the latest England veteran to retire

Leicester Tigers full-back Mike Brown has announced his retirement from professional rugby at the end of the season.

The 39-year-old has enjoyed a 20-year career, earning 72 England caps and winning two Premiership titles.

Though the full-back spent the majority of his career with Harlequins, being crowned English champions in 2012 and 2021, he left the Stoop in 2021, joining Newcastle Falcons. Following one season in the northeast, he joined Leicester, where he has made 32 appearances to date. With the Tigers sitting in second place in the league with one round remaining, the veteran has a chance to add yet more silverware to his name.

With 280 appearances, only three players have featured more in the Premiership than Brown- Alex Goode, Danny Care and Richard Wigglesworth. Brown’s long-time Harlequins and England team-mate Care is also set to hang up his boots this season, as is his current team-mate Ben Youngs.

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“After a great deal of reflection, the time feels right to step away from professional rugby and officially retire from the game that has shaped my life in so many ways,” Brown wrote in an open letter.

“It’s impossible to fully express what rugby has meant to me. From the very beginning, it gave me purpose, drive, and belonging—and instilled values that have shaped who I am on and off the pitch. For more than two decades, I’ve been lucky enough to live out my dream, and I’m incredibly proud of everything I’ve experienced and achieved throughout this journey.

“There have been unforgettable highs – those moments at Twickenham, hard-fought wins with Harlequins, the honour of pulling on the England shirt, and representing the history and tradition of Leicester Tigers. And there have been challenges too, moments that tested me deeply. But even the lowest points helped me grow in ways I never imagined. Every single moment – good or tough – has shaped me into the person I am today.

“To every teammate, every coach who believed in me, and the members of staff I’ve worked alongside – thank you. You challenged me, supported me, and helped me become better. I’ve learned so much from you all, and I’ve made friendships that will last a lifetime.

“To the fans, your support and your energy has meant everything. Whether I was a player you liked or not, I hope you always saw the passion, commitment, and pride I felt in representing your club and our country. I never took that privilege for granted.

“A special thank you to my performance mentor of 18 years, Margot Wells. Your continuous belief, guidance, and support made such a significant difference in all I’ve achieved in the game.

“To my family…

“Dad, thank you for introducing me to this great game. All the times spent throwing a rugby ball around the garden, all the car journeys back and forth to training and games. The journey wouldn’t have started without you.

“To my incredible wife, Eliza, your love, strength, and support have been and continue to be the foundation of everything. The sacrifices you’ve made, your encouragement, your belief in me – it’s no coincidence my career reached new heights after meeting you. To my amazing children, Jax and Sienna, you won’t quite understand yet, but you’ve been my greatest motivation and will continue to be in everything I do. As you grow, I hope I can be an example of what hard work, resilience, and dedication can achieve.

“None of this would have been possible without you all.

“Rugby has given me more than I could ever have imagined, but now it’s time for a new chapter. I’m excited for what’s ahead: continuing to work in high-performing environments, building great teams, pushing boundaries, and helping others grow.

“To the leaders running our game…

“Club owners, league executives, national and international governing body senior leadership, my hope is that you come together, think beyond the short term, and make the bold, unselfish decisions needed to allow rugby to thrive once again. We have a responsibility to protect and grow this incredible game, so future generations can experience everything it has to offer – just as I have.

“To everyone with a significant voice in the game…

“Media figures, pundits, former players, commentators, I urge you to continue helping shift the negative narrative around rugby. Let’s talk more about the brilliant action, the big hits, the electric tries, the unbelievable skill, the fierce rivalries, and the amazing characters who make our game special. Rugby is full of passion, drama, and world-class athletes giving their all. By celebrating what makes our sport great, we can inspire the next generation, bring more fans through the gates, grow the game and remind everyone why we fell in love with it in the first place.

“The boots are coming off- but the lessons, values, and love for the game remain. So it’s goodbye from Mike Brown the rugby player, but hello to a new chapter filled with energy, purpose, and passion for what’s next.

“Thank you, for everything.

“Mike.”