Gordon Brown, the former Scotland and Lions lock has died, aged 53, after a long battle against cancer. "Broon Frae Troon", one of the best locks in the world in his day, played in eight Tests for the Lions between 1971 and 1977, won 30 caps for Scotland.
Last night,Willie John McBride, the other half of the legendary second-row partnership from the Lions tours of 1971 and 1974, said: "Gordon was a great friend for almost 30 years. We first met in '71 when we went to New Zealand and he got into the Test team.
"And we were never on a losing side as a partnership. This is so sad. Everything good about the game of rugby, Gordon Brown had it. And Gordon the guy was tremendous. He had a zest for life. He was always up, always positive, even through his illness. He was always ready for a bit of fun. He was a great tourist as well."
McBride was captain of the 1974 Lions in South Africa and devised a coded message – 99 – which was the signal for every member of the team to come in with fists to deal with the stroppy Springboks. That was in the third Test in Port Elizabeth. There were two 99 calls, one in each half, and Brown ended up with a fractured bone in a hand after one of them which caused him to miss the fourth and final Test.
The 6ft 5in, 17st Brown, a former building society manager, latterly carved a successful career as an after-dinner speaker.
