Rapid rise of a new marvel at the back

Mike Brown has had a shocking week. On Tuesday afternoon he was browsing the internet when he discovered he was included in England's squad for the experimental expedition to South Africa.

"It came as a huge shock," he said. "When I saw my name I couldn't believe it. Later my selection was confirmed in a text message, but it took a couple of days for it to sink in."

Seismic shock number two came at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, where Harlequins held their end-of-season dinner. Brown, Andre Vos, the former captain who is returning home to South Africa, and David Strettle, the dynamic England wing, were the nominees of the Quins' management for player of the year.

The award went to Brown. "I was stunned," he said. "I was convinced one of the others would get it. I was absolutely chuffed. I didn't let my hair down, though. I'm still in training, so I stayed off the alcohol." The following day he was in the dentist's chair having a tooth removed, and then it was back to the gym.

Last Saturday, when Quins overran Sale at the Stoop, Brown scored two tries, taking his total for the season to nine, which made him the club's leading try-scorer, one ahead of Strettle. At the Professional Rugby Players' Association annual bash Strettle was voted the players' young player of the year.

Promoted to the Six Nations because of an injury to Mark Cueto, Strettle was a breath of fresh air, but the rapid rise of Brown is even more intriguing. He is the only out-and-out fullback in the 30- man party for South Africa, where England will play the Springboks in Bloemfontein on 26 May and Pretoria on 2 June. There is no Josh Lewsey (Wasps and Leicester players were ruled out because of the Heineken Cup final on 20 May), no Olly Morgan, who is injured, and no Iain Balshaw, who is relegated to Saxons duty in the Barclays Churchill Cup. Jason Robinson, the captain, could play No 15, but England will want him on the left wing.

"Mike Brown has been the most consistent full-back in the Premiership," Brian Ashton said. "This will be a tough ask for him. I'm looking for the right balance at centre and full-back and I'm hoping a few of the youngsters will take this opportunity and prove themselves good enough to play in the World Cup. They won't face many bigger challenges than this."

The funny thing is, Ashton has never met Brown nor even spoken to him. The party will meet up at Twickenham on 15 May, the day they fly to South Africa, where they will get acquainted during 10 days of training at altitude. It will be Brown's first visit to the republic and he is joined by three other Quins: Strettle, Andy Gomarsall, and Nick Easter. All four could play in the first Test.

"It's a totally new situation for me so it's handy having a few friends around," Brown said. "It will make things a lot easier. There are others, like Anthony Allen and Toby Flood, that I know really well. It's going to be interesting. Will Greenwood told me to grab it with both hands and show them what I can do. We didn't expect to get this chance and it's up to us to stake a claim. Nobody will want to let themselves or their country down. I am hoping to win my first cap and see what happens after that."

Brown, who shares a house at Twickenham with fellow Quins Jordan Turner-Hall and Alex Rogers, was born in Southampton and began playing rugby at Salisbury. His father, Nick, a fireman, played county standard for Yorkshire. It was while he was studying sports science, human biology and sociology at sixth-form college in Winchester that Brown joined Quins Under-19s, and three years ago they offered him a contract to join their academy. He was playing for the second team when Quins were relegated from the Premiership and they set about going straight back up under the new director of rugby, Dean Richards.

"Deano met the youngsters and told us that if we played well we would be given a chance in the first team. He was true to his word. They have all been really good to me. I used to play at stand-off but I like the free role that full-back offers. This is the best job I could ever have. I just love it."

Last season Quins dominated National League One, losing one match, to Exeter. Brown missed that one - he was on England Under- 21 duty - but established himself as a key member of the side, overtaking two other fullbacks in the squad, Gavin Duffy and Tom Williams. "Playing in the First Division was a good experience, and the step up from the second team wasn't so great. It wasn't easy and there were some hard matches at proud old clubs, but I think it stood us in good stead for a return to the Premiership." Again Brown took the step up. During the Six Nations he played for the Saxons, England's A team, scoring two tries against Italy and helping to beat Ireland at Ravenhill. He is quick, strong, at 6ft and 14st 3lb, and feisty with it.

Against Northampton at Franklin's Gardens he got involved in a touchline tussle with Ben Cohen, which earned him a lecture from the referee. "You can't take a backward step against anyone," Brown, at 21 England's number one No 15, said. It sounds promising - attitude at altitude.

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