Wellington U19s profile: Josh Brown (Captain)

Above: Josh Brown playing for this New Zealand Barbarians Schools against the NZSS Schools late last year.

The Wellington U19's won the inaugural Graham Mourie Cup at the National Jock Hobbs Memorial event in 2014, finishing fifth last year. In the last in our U19s profile series before Thursday’s kick-off, we meet loose forward and captain Josh Brown.

Josh Brown concedes he was "a bit of a shambles" 18 months ago. He was mixing with the wrong crowd, misbehaving at school and causing more trouble than he should have been.

"I got tired of letting my family down. I wanted to stick closer to them. I had to change some of my behaviour and habits which was hard. Rugby helped me do that," Brown reflects.

Brown was always a promising player. He had been a regular fixture in age-group rep sides and even reached the St. Pats Silverstream First XV in Year 11.

It wasn't until 2015 however that his game soared to another level. He was appointed First XV skipper and was selected for the New Zealand Barbarians Schools' team.

"Making the Barbarians was huge for me. It opened up possibilities I didn't even know existed. I am so grateful to my best mates and coaches at St. Pats Silverstream for sticking by me. I was really proud to captain Stream, “Brown says.

New possibilities tempted Brown to Canterbury where he played for Christchurch’s High School Old Boys club and secured employment. His stay was brief.

"I wanted to experience new things so I decided to start something fresh. I was offered a lot and I am grateful for that. Over time I felt overworked and really missed my family. I decided to keep it quiet for a while and then left," Brown recalls.

How did Canterbury respond?

"They weren't too pleased, but you win some and you lose some. I have no hard feelings about it," Brown says.

Brown returned to Upper Hutt and felt he had a point to prove.

"I didn't play a lot of rugby before the 19's were named, maybe six games, but I felt like I was playing pretty good. I was around all my best mates again and that made life easier," Brown enthuses.

Brown was so at ease he was selected U19's captain for their first hit out against Wellington Maori. He has preserved his position and will lead Wellington in their first match of the Jock Hobbs Memorial tournament against Otago on Thursday.

"I was more than surprised to be asked to captain the team, but I am hugely honoured. We have a nickname for this team, 'the unit.' It means no superstars. We have got some really talented players, but nobody is above anybody else. Everybody has their special talents and have played a big part. I believe we have the team to win it. I don't think there will be too many surprises with the selections. We’re all really looking forward to the tournament," Brown reveals.

Wellington won the Central Region Shield to become top seeds in the Hurricanes region. In five lead-up games they have scored 32 tries. They had wins over Hawke’s Bay (38-3) and Manawatu (38-13) in the two seeding matches for Taupo.

Brown is the middle of five children. His mother Debra is actively involved in netball and dad Leo works in IT and communications. Josh admits he is working hard to find an outlet away from rugby, but this week that might be excusable.

Wellington’s first game of the tournament is against Otago at 3.05pm on Thursday. Otago qualified second from the South Island after missing out to defending champions Canterbury 19-22.

The Wellington U19 squad for Taupo is:

Props: Alex Fidow (Ories), Ben Amua-Peseta (Tawa), Ivan Fepuleai (Marist St Pat’s), Sitiveni Paongo (Tawa)

Hookers: Asafo Aumua (Avalon), Ben Power (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
Locks: Isaia Walker-Leawere (Poneke), Jarimar Schuster (Wainuiomata), Paterson Carter (Old Boys University)

Loose forwards: Bruce Kauika-Peterson (Petone), Folau Vea (Tawa), John Tuia (Ories), Josh Brown (Upper Hutt Rams), Nese Solia (Marist St Pat’s)

Halfbacks: Kemara Hauiti-Parapara (Tawa), Regan Sword (Marist St Pat’s)
First five-eighths: Sam Fox (Poneke), Alex Ropeti (OBU)

Midfielders and outside backs: Levi Harmon (Poneke), Losi Filipo (Petone), Lester Maulolo (Petone), Maile Koloto (OBU), Willie Fine (Petone), Kerrod Foaese (Marist St Pat’s), Peter Umaga-Jensen (Wainuiomata)