A mural of England Rugby star Shaunagh Brown has been painted in South London to celebrate her achievements and her role in establishing the Red Roses, England Rugby’s women’s team, as the number one ranked team in the world.
Shaunagh Brown, an influential figure in women’s sport, is currently competing for the Red Roses in New Zealand against the world’s best teams. The Red Roses have recorded 28 consecutive victories, the most of any male or female rugby team in history.
The 32-year-old England prop, who has made 28 appearances for the national side, was born and raised in Kennington, South London, and her mural can be found on the wall outside The Oval cricket ground. She attended the nearby Walnut Tree Walk Primary School and Addey and Stanhope School.
Murals have also been painted of her teammates including, Sarah Hunter, Red Roses captain, alongside centre and record point scorer Emily Scarratt who have had their portraits created in Newcastle and Leicester – all key locations that played a big part in their early rugby careers.
The murals were supported by O2, principal partner of England Rugby. They were created by England Rugby licensee and renowned street artist collective, MurWalls, whose artists also created the player street art in Twickenham Stadium ahead of the 2022 Guinness Six Nations Championship.
The trio are not the only ones in the spotlight; to further celebrate the individual roots of each squad member currently in New Zealand, England Rugby has launched an out-of-home campaign honouring each player across 127 sites throughout the country including their hometowns. The campaign will run until the end of November.
Red Roses Prop, Shaunagh Brown, said: “While we don’t always ask to be role models, as professional athletes playing on the other side of the world we are, so I’m incredibly proud that aspiring young girls and boys, especially those of colour, can look to me in a very real way for inspiration.”
Rose Roses Captain, Sarah Hunter, said: “You can’t be what you can’t see, so I hope every young girl who drives past these murals on their way to school, or when they walk to rugby training is inspired, knowing that they too can one day play on the world stage.
“Novocastrians RFC will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s where I first realised I might be better suited to the forwards, and so moved from inside centre to the backrow!
“While it’s my face up there on the side of the clubhouse, it’s also a celebration of the legacy of every woman who’s pulled on an England jersey.”
