Milestone for Bushrangers player

Rugby union milestone

The Maleny Bushrangers Rugby Union season has finished for the year and the club is preparing for its annual presentation evening on Saturday night, September 7 at the Maleny RSL Club.

Each season brings a range of achievements and highlights for individual players but one key milestone is that of long-time club member, 23-year-old Shaun Arnold–Brown, who played his 100th senior game for the club in reserve grade.

Shaun’s love of the game of rugby began in 2001 as a five year old playing in the Maroochydore Rugby Union Club’s under 7s, only turning six at the end of the season.

When the Maleny Junior Rugby Union Club formed the following year, Shaun became the first to sign on for its under 7s team.

Fast forward to 2019 when Shaun, a senior for the Maleny Bushrangers, played his 100th senior game for the club on July 27, which was made all the sweeter when he scored a try and kicked two conversions.

Shaun said rugby has been the biggest catalyst in his life and that he was proud to pull on the blue, green and gold for the 100th time.

Shaun joined the Maleny Bushrangers Senior Colts in 2012 after being allowed dispensation to play up, as he was only 17 years old.

He has also played two seasons of grid iron (American football) with the Sunshine Coast Spartans - one season in juniors and one in the senior division.

Shaun was an Australian representative in the junior side that played American representative sides in a Down Under Bowl competition.

Shaun also spent 18 months in the USA on a rugby part scholarship where he had the opportunity to play rugby and rugby sevens, as well as receiving an American college degree.

Shaun regards playing rugby and rugby sevens in America as among the special moments in his sporting career, alongside the thrill of reaching and playing in premierships with the Bushrangers and the opportunity of touring Canada and the USA with the Australian Outback Barbarians.

His Bushrangers team finished third in the Sunshine Coast Rugby Union reserve grade competition this season. They were knocked out in the minor semi-final bringing their season to an end.

Shaun, who regards camaraderie among team mates as the most important part of rugby, simply reckons that young kids should get involved, have fun and enjoy playing the game.