The Dallas Jackals signed Mike Brown for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The 29-year-old hooker is 6’0”, and 230 lbs.
Mike played in all five matches during the truncated 2020 MRL season, starting once. In 2019 he played 171 minutes in 7 matches, starting twice with RUNY, scoring 1 try, carrying 12 times for 54 meters, and made 14 tackles. Following the season, he returned to play club rugby with NYAC in the American Rugby Premiership.
Mike also played in all three of the matches for RUNY during the 2018 Spring exhibition season and then was loaned to Austin Elite Rugby for the 2018 MLR season. He started 7 of the 8 games, playing 380 minutes.
Mike was born in Detroit, Michigan, and moved to South Africa when he was 12 years old. He began playing rugby at Selborne College before moving back to Michigan four years later, attending Clarkston High School, and playing rugby with the Birmingham Buccaneers. In 2009 he attended the USA Rugby Under-18s camp.
After graduating high school, he enrolled at Bowling Green State University and played rugby from 2010-2014. The team advanced to the National Collegiate Championships each year, finishing in 3rd place in 2011 and in 2014. While there, he was a Mid-American All-Conference selection multiple times and in 2014 earned honors as an Honorable Mention Collegiate All-American.
After graduating from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor’s of Applied Science Degree (BASc) in Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management, he played with the Scottish Premiership’s Glasgow Hawks. He then moved to New York City to join Old Blue, competing in the American Rugby Premiership for three years.
Dallas Jackals Comments
Mike says he is really excited to work with the coaching staff and build a winning culture in Dallas. He continued, “I hope to help some of the young American players’ transition from the college game to what it means to be a professional rugby player.”
Mike explained that he has been working hard during quarantine to get ready and has a ton to prove to himself as a player. When asked about Dallas Mike said, “With the passionate fans, I think Dallas could be the next rugby hotbed and I’m excited to be a part of the community from the grassroots level and connect the youth to the Jackals organization.”
Mike recently married his wife Arielle in April and the pair are excited about the move to Dallas. Welcome to the pack Mike!
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