Mike Brewer (rugby union)
A fierce and intelligent All Blacks flanker who captained his country and later masterminded upsets as a coach.
Born 1964 (age 62)·NZ international rugby union player·Birthday: November 6·Baby Boomers
Biography
Mike Brewer played rugby with a combative intelligence that made him a natural leader. Born in 1964, the loose forward earned his All Blacks jersey in an era of formidable talent, representing New Zealand 32 times between 1986 and 1995. His game was built on relentless physicality at the breakdown and a sharp tactical mind. Brewer's leadership was confirmed when he captained the All Blacks on their 1993 tour of Scotland and England. After hanging up his boots, he transitioned into coaching, where his strategic acumen truly shone. He famously guided the Scottish club side Borders to a shock victory over the star-studded British & Irish Lions in 2001, a result that cemented his reputation as a shrewd and disruptive tactical thinker.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Mike was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mike Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Mike's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Captained the New Zealand All Blacks on their 1993 tour of the United Kingdom.
- Won 22 of his 32 test matches for the All Blacks, playing as a flanker and number eight.
- As a coach, engineered the famous 2001 victory for the Scottish Borders over the British & Irish Lions.
- Played provincial rugby for both Otago and Canterbury in New Zealand's South Island.
Did You Know?
He scored only one try in his 32-test career for the All Blacks.
His son, Hamish Brewer, also became a professional rugby player.
He served as a technical advisor for the Italian national rugby team during the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
“The jersey isn't given; it's earned every time you pull it on.”
