'I never think about the end' - Brown, 39, sets new goals
Brown has featured in Leicester's pre-season friendlies against Scarlets and Nottingham
- Published
Leicester Tigers full-back Mike Brown insists he is "not thinking about the end" as he prepares for his 20th season of senior rugby.
Brown, 39, is the oldest player in the Premiership but says he is refusing to contemplate retirement.
"I never think about when the end would be or what the end would look like," he told Rugby Union Weekly.
"You have the odd occasion when you think, 'I am getting on a bit now, can I still do it?'
"But you get back out there and try and put a few of the young lads back in their place, try not to get run around and stepped.
"I try not to think about it too much."
Brown made his debut for Harlequins in summer 2005 and spent another 16 years with the club before moving to Newcastle and then Leicester, initially on a short-term deal midway through the 2022-23 season.
His performances have earned a couple of contract extensions and he scored five tries in 20 appearances last season.
Brown says that his longevity is partly thanks to a commitment to conditioning and rehabilitation throughout his career.
He has long employed famed sprint coach Margot Wells, who helped husband Allan Wells win 100m Olympic gold at Moscow 1980, to put on additional sessions during his free time.
"Finding someone you train with regularly and who knows your body inside out, I have done that for a long time," he said of Wells' involvement.
"That is all out my own pocket, but little things like that help you feel good on the field and keep you injury free.
"I think it has paid off. It costs a lot, but in any walk of life, any business, or career, you have to invest your time, money and effort if you want to do things in that career.
"That is what I have tried to do from day one."
Leicester's Freddie Steward has been out of international favour for the first time since making his England debut in 2021
One of Brown's goals for this year is to push his club-mate Freddie Steward to reclaim a starting role as England full-back.
Steward started in England's most recent match – a 24-17 defeat by New Zealand in July – but Northampton's George Furbank was preferred for the majority of the summer tour and the preceding Six Nations.
"I joined a club with a current England full-back still involved, so I am not necessarily going to be playing every week," said Brown.
"It is a different role and time to re-motivate yourself in a different way – knowing you might not be involved, but you lean on the fact you are helping the team in a different way, still driving the team to achieve, even if you are not taking the field.
"Once Freddie Steward regains his spot, and I truly believe he will, if I have had a small factor in that by pushing him hard at Leicester every day… that will give me satisfaction as well.
"And hopefully more game time!"
Brown is England's most-capped full-back, making the last of 72 Test appearances in 2018. Leicester begin their Premiership campaign away at Exeter on Saturday.