The following year he represented Durham once again against Yorkshire at three-quarter back and then retired from the game for a while.
In 1884 he was selected to play for the North of England vs the South and was once again called up for Durham County.
His career took him abroad but when he returned from Burmah in 1887 he played association football as a right wing forward for Darlington F.C.
He took up rugby once more in 1887/1888 and was immediately selected for the Durham County team, and was chosen captain.
[5] Brooks played 17 times on the 1888 Lions Tour on the wing or at centre, scoring three tries, while he also refereed several matches.