By Derek Royal  

WALLABY back-rower Richard Brown is one of the toughest players in international rugby union. A ball of muscle who stands at six feet two and a half inches and weighs in at 106 kilos, Brown last year wore the Wallaby Gold in 11 Test matches against countries as diverse as New Zealand, South Africa and England. But rugby isn't the Queenslander's only interest. A private pilot with a keen sense of adventure and a passion for aerial mustering, Brown spoke to Derek Royal and explained how close he came to becoming a career aviator.

AS a young bloke fresh out of Brisbane’s Nudgee College, Richard Brown headed for Archerfield Airport to study his pilot’s licence. Brought up on a 40,000 hectare cattle station at Nonda Downs on the road between Mt Isa and Charters Towers, the plan was to learn to fly before heading back home to put the licence to practical use in his father’s trusty Cessna.    

“My dad has flown all his life through necessity because our property is so isolated,” Brown tells Aviator. “The plan was for me to get my pilot’s licence, go back to the farm and use my piloting skills as required. I was going to be doing things like aerial mustering, collecting supplies and checking powerlines and fences on the property. That’s why I got my licence in the first place, to work on the farm.”

But after representing the Australian Schoolboys rugby team in his senior year at high school and being drafted into the Queensland Reds’ (professional rugby) academy, Brown’s flying aspirations took a back seat to rugby. To his credit, Richard ticked the first box in the grand plan and earned his private licence, but the lure of professional rugby took precedence as he dedicated himself to a lucrative career chasing an oval piece of pigskin rather than chasing up to 6,000 head of cattle from the air.    

After spending so many hours sharing his dad’s company as he went about his aerial work, Richard says the practical side of flying an aircraft came naturally.

“I’ve been in the back of my dad’s planes since I can remember and I managed to jump behind the controls now and then when I was a little fella. I must’ve been about 10 when I first went behind the controls so when I studied for my licence, being in control of a plane was a comfortable feeling.”

For the 26-year-old rugby international, flying is about adventure. That’s what hooked him. But Brown also understands the flight safety considerations of being a pilot, especially those who earn a crust from aero mustering. 

“Aero mustering involves a lot of slow flying at low level and due to the nature of the job, pilot fatigue is a big danger and serious accidents can happen,” he says. “Pilots have to be really switched on to avoid getting in trouble.”

Despite the dangers involved in this form of flying, Brown has nothing but fond memories of times spent with his dad in the Cessna. “I really enjoyed low level flying, practising stalls and recovering safely,” Brown says. “My dad has had Cessna 172s and 182s and has been flying for as long as I can remember. I used to love going up with him, those days bring back good memories.”
 
After starting his rugby career with the Reds, Brown in 2007 joined Perth-based Western Force. Not long after touching down in the WA capital he journeyed to Jandakot Airport to check out the possibility of continuing his flying education. But unfortunately, Richard couldn’t justify the expense of pursuing a flying career, albeit part-time, so he instead uses his spare time to study an advanced diploma in businesss. 

“The only flying I do at the moment is in a Qantas jet and my main focus is rugby,” he says. “I might take flying up again but that will depend on where I am post-football, what I end up doing for an occupation. I’ll have to make that decision when the time comes.”

2011 is a massive year for rugby union. The southern hemisphere’s Super 15 competition – which includes the best provincial teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa - has expanded to include a franchise from Melbourne. And the Rugby World Cup – held every four years - is being played in New Zealand at the end of the year, with Australia one of the favourites to bring home the spoils.

When asked what his ambitions are for the season, Richard Brown is forthright and honest.

“I lost a bit of form and I lost condition towards the end of last year and it reflected in my performances, so to be completely honest it’s about achieiving a high standard of conditioning, maintaining it and seeing that transfer into performances on the paddock. There’s plenty of hard work ahead.”