Rugby: Telfer gives emotional tribute for ‘‘giant’’ Brown

Jim Telfer, director of rugby for the Scottish Rugby Union, led the tributes for Gordon Brown, who lost his battle against cancer yesterday at the age of 53.

Son of a Scottish international goalkeeper and younger brother of Peter, who won 29 caps of his own for the Scots in the 15-man code, ‘‘Broon Frae Troon’’ was born to be a sportsman.

Thirty caps for his country and eight for the Lions are more than adequate proof of his abilities as a second-row and his right to be ranked alongside the post-war greats of the northern hemisphere.

Telfer said: ‘‘The world of rugby has lost a giant of a man both in build and sparkling personality.

‘‘Gordon made an immense contribution to Scottish and British rugby and was very much the cornerstone of our pack in the early 1970s.

‘‘He was a big man in every sense and his enthusiasm for the game, and life in general, shone in everything he did.’’

And Scotland coach Ian McGeechan, a British Lion with Brown in both South Africa in 1974 and New Zealand in 1977, said: ‘‘Gordon was one of life’s exceptional characters.

‘‘He was a huge figure in our Test triumphs in South Africa in 1974. In all, he scored eight tries on that tour, including two in successive Tests, to set a record for a visiting forward on a tour.

‘‘Gordon loved his rugby and he loved having fun. His fellow players, both in Scotland and Lions teams, always regarded him as special.’’

Exhausted after a succession of treatments, Brown nevertheless flew from Glasgow to make the dinner and insisted on walking aided by brothers Peter and John, plus the guiding hand of McBride, rather than make his entrance in a wheelchair.

It was a moving moment in itself and became all the more tear-jerking as he took to the stage and stood before an audience for the final time.