Leeds Rhinos mourn death of Hall of Fame hero who made World Cup history with Great Britain

Leeds Rhinos are mourning the death of a Hall of Fame member who made World Cup history with Great Britain.

Gordon Brown, who was in his 90s, died peacefully overnight. A Leeds-born utility-back, he played more than 250 times during a 10-year career with his home city club, but is best known as the stand-off in Great Britain’s winning team at rugby league’s first World Cup in 1954.

Brown was believed to be the last survivor of the side which beat France 16-12 in the final at Parc des Princes, Paris. Brown touched down in all four of Great Britain’s matches, including two in the final and was the tournament’s top try scorer with six.

Great Britain went through the competition unbeaten, defeating Australia and New Zealand and drawing with France in the group stage, despite being written off before a ball was kicked. They were without all but three of the side which had recently returned from an Ashes Test series in Australia, which they lost 2-1 and the sport’s authorities refused to pay for a coach to travel with the team.

Brown, who played most of his rugby for Leeds as a centre, made his debut in the final game of the 1949-50 season, at home to Halifax. He became an established member of the side three years later and went on to score 94 tries and 17 goals in 253 appearances.

A knee injury kept him out of Leeds’ Wembley Challenge Cup final victory in 1957, but he was a Yorkshire Cup winner two years later when Wakefield were beaten 24-20 at Odsal, in Bradford. As well as the World Cup, he featured in two Tests against New Zealand in 1955 and was also capped by Yorkshire. He left Leeds to join Keighley in 1960 and was the 30th player to be inducted into Rhinos’ Hall of Fame, two years ago.