16 Jan 2019

Lewis Brown leaving rugby league for fashion

11:32 am on 16 January 2019

From the NRL to the catwalk - veteran Kiwis international Lewis Brown is quitting rugby league to pursue a career in the fashion industry.

Lewis Brown during the 2016 ANZAC Test against Australia

Lewis Brown in action for the Kiwis Photo: Photosport

32 year old Brown has announced his retirement from the sport, saying he had exceeded his expectations and faced fresh challenges to tackle.

He has devoted time to developing a clothing brand that is due to be launched this month.

Brown played 197 games in an NRL career spread evenly across the Warriors, Penrith and Manly. He fell short of reaching double centurion status last season when the Sea Eagles fielded him just twice.

A versatile performer, he was adept in the centres but played the latter part of his career in the forwards as a hooker or second-rower.

The last of his 15 Tests was the Four Nations final loss to Australia in Liverpool two years ago.

"I achieved more than I set out to do," Christchurch-raised Brown wrote in a social media post.

"Playing professional footy has proved to me that if you work hard enough any thing in life is possible."

-AAP