Rory Brand

Brand was the first recipient of the Jimmy Higham Scholarship at Wellington College.[2] Jimmy, like Rory, was a student at Standish Community High School in Wigan before becoming a PE teacher at Wellington College.

Brand was briefly on the Salford City Reds Scholarship scheme after gaining rugby league experience with Wigan St Cuthberts ARLFC and became a member of the Sale Sharks Junior Academy in 2013.[3]

In 2015, Brand joined the London Irish Academy. In February 2016, Brand helped London Irish to beat Gloucester 35–11 in the Under 18 Premiership final.[4] Rory Brand captained London Irish at the 2017 Singha Premiership Rugby 7s.[5]

In the 2016–17 season, Brand represented London Irish in the RFU Championship[6] and the 2016–17 British and Irish Cup.[7]

The following season saw Brand feature for the Exiles in the 2017–18 Anglo-Welsh Cup[8] and European Rugby Challenge Cup.[9]

In February 2015, Brand made his debut for the England U18 team in a 21–5 win over France U18 at Doncaster,[3] having previously played for Lancashire U15, U16, the North U16, England U17 and in April 2017 England U19.[3] In February 2017, Brand made his debut for the England U20 team off the bench in a 46–0 victory over Italy at the Northern Echo Arena during the 2017 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[10] On 3 January 2018 Brand was named in England under-20s squad for the 2018 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[11]

On 21 May 2018 Brand was named in the England Under-20 squad for the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[12] Brand scored a try against Italy during the pool stage[13] and came off the bench in the final as England finished runners up to hosts France.[14]