Having been injured when the 2024/25 season started, it is fair to say that Lisa Brown did not expect to be starring for Edinburgh Rugby in the Celtic Challenge right now aged 17.
But that has come to pass since she made her debut off the bench in the home win over Brython Thunder in January and showed herself to be more than capable of playing 13 at this level.
Indeed, that day, when she was 17 and 10 months and nine days old, she became the youngest female ever to play for the capital club, the youngest man being Jamie Farndale.
Fast forward a few weeks and she will be starting at outside centre on Saturday in the important derby match with Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun at 2pm.
“Being involved with Edinburgh Rugby in recent weeks has been a bit crazy, but a good crazy if you know what I mean,” Brown said.
“I always want to play at the highest level I can and test myself so although this opportunity has come quicker than I perhaps thought, I am just embracing it.
“The more senior players around me and the coaches have been really helpful and it is not every weekend you get to play in a derby match against Glasgow so I am looking forward to our next game.”
What will make the Scotstoun match up even more fun for rising star Brown is that her flat mate Emily Coubrough will be at No.8 for Glasgow and her good friend Poppy Mellanby will be at full-back for the hosts.
“The three of us have grown up together and are close and have helped each other in our rugby journeys for sure,” Brown said.
“We are so used to being on the same team so to be playing against each other will be strange, but we’ll all be focused out there on the pitch.”
Having been a horse rider in her youth, with her brother and sister playing rugby at local club Biggar, Brown was keen to get involved in a team sport.
“I took up rugby at Biggar and started from under-16 level,” she explained.
“It was a great set up to join and I already knew a lot of the players because they were my class mates and friends at Biggar High School so that made it a bit easier.
“I was soon loving rugby and I was asked to join the Hypers group [the high performance academy at the Hartree Mill club] and those extra sessions and extra learning boosted my confidence and helped my game.
“Playing for Biggar and being a part of the Hypers group then led to me being given some Scottish Rugby academy support and that continues now which is great.
“I really loved horse riding when I was involved, but often you were doing it by yourself and when I got involved in rugby I quickly found out that I love being part of a team.”
At the end of 2023/24 just before Brown left high school she was part of the Scotland under-18 squad that took part in the Six Nations Festival at Stadiwm CSM in Colwyn Bay, Wales.
That experience taught her a lot playing against other countries and seeing players like the ones from France up close.
Last summer Brown began a history degree at Edinburgh University, but her rugby season was delayed by an injury.
When she did get back, she played some BUCS Super Rugby matches for the university and then forced her way into the Edinburgh squad for this ongoing six-team Celtic Challenge event which, as well as the Scots, also features teams from Ireland and Wales.
“It has certainly been a steep learning curve rugby-wise in recent months because it is my first year in senior women’s rugby, but once I was back fit I was just itching to play,” Brown explained.
“I have loved the games that I have played with the uni and Edinburgh so far and I just want to keep learning from everyone around me and get minutes under my belt.”
Hailing from Biggar and playing 13, Brown has Scotland centre Emma Orr to look up to and not many would bet against the younger player taking the same route to the top as the latter such is her focus and talent.
On Brown’s speedy progress of late, Edinburgh head coach Claire Cruikshank said: “Lisa didn’t expect it, her focus was to get playing adult rugby this season and to make that under-18 Six Nations squad.
“And she started the season injured, she didn’t actually play any rugby until late October/start of November, but what she’s a natural 13, she brings youthful exuberance in that position.
“She’s learning all the time and she has some great role models through Biggar to look up to and that at Edinburgh University she’s also had Nicole Flynn and Holly McIntyre to bounce ideas off. She’s got huge talent and a huge future in my opinion, I think she’s one to watch for sure.”
Be at Scotstoun to cheer on Edinburgh Rugby this Saturday – tickets are available at glasgowwarriors.org
Thanks to Edinburgh Rugby for the image of Lisa Brown
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