ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL JOINS WARRIORS WOMEN

Warriors Women have landed England international back-row Jo Brown ahead of the 2020/21 season.

Brown, 26, who makes the switch from Loughborough Lightning, has been capped seven times by the Red Roses and was part of the team that stormed to a Six Nations Grand Slam last year.

Determined and relishing the challenge of helping Warriors Women go to the next level, Brown said: “I’m really excited to join Worcester as the team are building something great under Jo Yapp. I can’t wait to progress my career both on and off the field.”

Warriors Women Director of Rugby Jo Yapp is delighted to have secured the services of the dynamic forward, adding: “We are really excited to have Jo join us. She has international experience and will fit into what is a really competitive and exciting back-row.”

Brown started for England against the Barbarians at Twickenham last year, packing down alongside Poppy Cleall and Sarah Hunter in the back-row during a 40-14 victory and was involved in the 2019 Women’s Rugby Super Series in San Diego.

Warriors wing Lydia Thompson, who rubbed shoulders with Brown in both, said: “Jo brings so much to the team – she is really hard working and embraces a challenge, balancing her NHS physio work with her passion for playing rugby.

“She also puts the team first and has a really fun, energetic personality which lifts everyone around her.”

Brown started in two of last year’s Super Series games and was victorious in both as she helped England defeat the USA and a Canada side, which included fellow new recruit Paige Farries, who bagged herself a try-scoring double that day.

Netherlands-born Brown took up the game at the age of 13 when she was introduced to rugby by her father David, who was a coach at Glossop RUFC.

Brown spent six seasons at DMP Durham Sharks in which time she combined her studies with playing for Teesside University where she was named the University’s Sports Woman of the Year in 2015. After completing a Masters in Physiotherapy at Northumbria University, Brown headed south to Loughborough Lightning ahead of the 2018-19 Premier 15s campaign and helped them to a third-place finish.

Representing England Under-20s in 2013, the following year Brown was selected in the GB Student Sevens squad for the World University Championships in Brazil whilst a BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy student at Teesside University.

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