Ross Brown (rugby union)
Ross Handley Brown ( born September 8, 1934 in New Plymouth, New Zealand ) is a former New Zealand rugby union player at the position of the connector and inner three- quarter. His father Handly and his uncle Henry were also New Zealand rugby national team.
Brown went as a student at King's College in Auckland, where he started playing rugby. In 1953 he was appointed for the first time in the national team of the Taranaki RFU. The following year, his appointment was followed in the selection of the North Island for the then annual game against the South Island.
Due to his achievements he made his debut in 1955 in the New Zealand national team ( All Blacks ) in the third match against the touring New Zealand in Australian national team ( Wallabies ). Although the All Blacks lost the game with 3:8, they could defend the Bledisloe Cup success, as they won the previous two matches.
His greatest triumph in rugby followed a year later when he won the international game series against the touring New Zealand in the South African national team ( Springboks ) for with the All Blacks. It was the first defeat of the Springboks in an international match series at all. The New Zealanders won three of four matches and lost one. Brown played in the first three games as the inner three quarters before it ran aground in the last game as a connector. In the second game he scored a try. With his province Taranaki he reached also a 3-3 draw against the South Africans.
In 1957 he won with Taranaki Ranfurly Shield for the first time against the Otago RFU. By 1959, one could defend the Shield three times successfully before they lost it to Southland rugby. 1957 and 1958 he defended further with the All Blacks Bledisloe Cup each of the against the Australians. He also played in 1959 in the first and third game of the All Blacks against the touring British and Irish Lions in New Zealand. With three wins and one loss, the All Blacks won their international game series for themselves.
On the tour of New Zealand in South Africa in 1960 he took out small and family reasons, did not participate was his place in the national team but recover in 1961. This year, the All Blacks played a series about three games against the come to New Zealand French national team. Brown ran in all three internationals, the All Blacks won all.
In 1962 he traveled though with New Zealand to Australia, where he played in the first international match at 20:6 win against the hosts, but after that he lost his place in the national team. As the All Blacks also won the second international match, they defended the Bledisloe Cup again.
For Taranaki he played as captain, despite the non-consideration for the All Blacks squad, remain a major role. So he could win with his province in 1963 Ranfurly Shield against Wellington RFU for the second time, and defend until the defeat against the Auckland RFU in 1965 in 15 games. 1968 Brown ended his active rugby career.