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Tigers ABC to Z: I is for internationals

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We're up to the letter I in the Tigers ABC to Z series.I is for internationals A total of 131 players have been capped by their country while at Leicester Tigers. The first of those was Jack Miles, who was capped by England against Wales in Swansea in 1903.   The most recent international was Michele Rizzo, the Italy international prop, who started the final game of the RBS 6 Nations against Wales in Rome.   Those 131 players have represented 13 countries, plus in the cases of Fred Jackson, Tom Smith and Kenneth Wood, were capped for the first time as Tigers players by the Lions.   Welford Road has hosted seven full international fixtures, 10 A/B internationals as well as age group, student, services and women’s internationals, all of which are documented in the new Tigers History Book.   I is for Inside Line Inside Line was the hugely popular programme column penned by George Chuter.   For almost a decade, Inside Line was an irreverent look at life at the training ground, rugby and the world in general through the eyes of former Tigers and England hooker Chuter.   With more than a passing mention of the activities of his teammates Julian Salvi and Thomas Waldrom, as well as wry look at current affairs and ‘on this day’ events, and not forgetting the Hollywood actress Mila Kunis, it was essential reading for many fans, players and journalists on matchdays.   Rumour has it the column may make a sensational return for one-off specials during the 2015/16 season. Over to you George!   I is for interception There have been some notable interception tries for Leicester Tigers in recent seasons, none more so than the one scored by Scott Hamilton in the 26-14 LV= Cup Final victory over Northampton at Sixways in 2012.   Tigers were under pressure inside their own 22 when Hamilton intercepted Stephen Myler’s long pass and ran 80m to score under the posts to open up a decisive 17-point lead. Click here to watch it again.   Toby Flood’s first try in Leicester colours came on his debut through an interception against Gloucester at Kingsholm on the opening day of the 2008/09 season. Click here to watch it again.   And who can forget Martin Castrogiovanni’s interception score against London Irish? Castrogiovanni read Seilala Mapasua's inside pass and then outpaced the Irish centre to score next to the posts. It was voted the 2009/10 Try of the Season by Tigers fans. Watch the try again, and listen to Castro talking about his score by clicking here. And make sure you keep viewing to the end to watch Tigers staff recreate the Try of the Season.   I is for Italy Castrogiovanni is the most-capped Italy international to play for Tigers, winning 63 caps for the Azzurri during his time at Welford Road.   He often lined-up alongside Leonardo Ghiralidini, the 75-time capped hooker, who moved to Tigers last summer and is part of the Italy squad preparing for the World Cup.   Michele Rizzo, the popular prop, is also part of that training squad, as is back-rower Robert Barbieri, who returns to Benetton Treviso for next season after spending one season at Welford Road.   In all, six players have been capped by Italy while at Tigers. The first was fly-half Ramiro Pez, who played against Scotland at Murrayfield in 2003, while Alex Moreno was capped as a Tigers player in a shock 13-12 win for Italy against Argentina in Cordoba in 2008.   And Italy have famously played two World Cup fixtures at Welford Road losing 31-21 to New Zealand in 1991 and narrowly edged out 28-25 by Tonga in 1999.   I is for Ireland Ireland have also played a full international at Welford Road, beating England 16-6 back in 1906.   Some  22 years later, George Beamish became the first of the 11 players in Tigers history to be capped by Ireland when he played against France in Belfast. He won 22 caps as a Tigers player.   The most recent Tigers player to be capped by Ireland was Shane Jennings in Buenos Aires in 2007. Niall Morris played for Emerging Ireland in the 2013 Tblisi Cup.   Geordan Murphy is unquestionably the most decorated Ireland international to play for Tigers, winning all 72 of his caps while at Welford Road and sharing in the 2009 Grand Slam success.