3 Famous Rugby Players You Didn't Know Were Adopted - Page 3 of 3 - Ruck

3 Famous Rugby Players You Didn’t Know Were Adopted

3. Spencer Brown

Brown was born in Eton, Berks., in 1973, he was adopted a few weeks later by Brian and Ruth Brown who took him to Northamptonshire.

After leaving school aged 17 he joined the Royal Marines as a musician, serving for 13 years. During this time he was based at RAF Northolt, Deal, London, Bristol and Portsmouth.



When he left the military he became a professional rugby player. He played as a winger/fullback for nine years, with six of these being in the English Premiership for Richmond RFC and Bristol RFC. Brown has also represented the Royal Navy and Combined Services rugby teams.

Brown was a member of the England Elite squad between 1998 and 2001 during which time he represented England at the World Sevens in Paris, England ‘A’ team during three seasons, and won two full England caps against Australia and South Africa in 1998.

The 45-year-old, who had been searching for his mother and sister for 26 years, said finally meeting them was better than playing for his country in 1998.

Brown’s mother Maureen didn’t want to appear on camera, but the show captured his meeting with his sister Margot, 46, who was also taken away from their mother and placed with her adoptive family.

Speaking of their reunion, Brown said: ‘It was incredible, it was like we’d never been apart. I’d say to date it was the best day of my life.

‘Even representing England, singing the national anthem, in front of 50,000 people, it doesn’t top that. I felt completely different. It filled some of the void that was there.’