Brown to retire from rugby at the end of the season

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 04: Scotland's Fraser Brown during a Guinness Six Nations match between England and Scotland at Twickenham Stadium, on February 04, 2023, in London, England. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

Aged 34, the hooker has opted to call time on his career where he earned 61 caps for Scotland and was a mainstay for Glasgow Warriors. Playing 141 times since his debut in 2013 , Brown was part of the 2015 PRO12 championship winning team and served as co-caption for two of his 12 seasons at the club.

Internationally, Brown made his Scotland debut as an injury replacement against Italy in the 2013 quadrangular tournament in South Africa with his subsequent performances earning selection in Scotland’s squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, where he featured in all five games.

Although primarily a hooker, Brown’s versatility in being able to cover flanker saw him feature in that position sporadically throughout the course of his international career, displayed by a start in the number seven shirt against Russia in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

A 50th cap came in the 2020 Guinness Six Nations win over France at BT Murrayfield, and he went on to captain his country for the first time against Georgia later that year.

Brown’s 61st and final cap came against Italy in the Guinness Six Nations last year.

He is currently head coach of Watsonians in the FOSROC Super Sprint Series and has not featured for Glasgow Warriors or Scotland this season due to injury.

Fraser Brown said: “When you have a serious injury like I did with an ACL at the end of your career, it is always going to be hard to come back from. That probably made it a little easier to announce my retirement but it’s still a surreal and strange feeling.

“I’m hugely proud to have played so many times for Scotland during my career. To get one cap was great, but then my second one came against the All Blacks at Murrayfield which was such a special occasion.

“To reach 50 caps was a big moment as I had to deal with a lot of injuries throughout my career and to be part of the growth process of the team which has resulted in where they are now has been cool.

“To have played so many times for my country and have that consistency which allowed me to be around the national team for so long is something I’m proud of.

“Thanks to all the supporters who backed me and the squad throughout my career. The adrenaline boost they provided at certain moments during the games made such a difference. I look forward to joining them in backing the team from the stands.”

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend said: “To win more than 60 caps for your country puts Fraser in a very small group of players which not only shows his ability as a rugby player but also a huge amount of resilience throughout a career he can be proud of.

“He had to contend with a number of serious injuries since he was 20 years old, up to this last injury. It’s been remarkable how often he’s found a way to bounce back and continue to play at the highest level.

“He’s someone who wore the Scotland jersey with real pride and will go down as one of the best to pull on the number two shirt. He also popped up as a number seven on a couple of occasions and did really well there too.

“We’d like to wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career.”