Leicester Tigers

Leicester born, Dan Cole emerged from the Tigers Academy ranks and loan spells in national One to cement his place in the club’s first-team squad and the England No3 shirt.

A former pupil of Martin Johnson’s old school in Market Harborough, tighthead prop Cole made such an impression in the front row that his first England cap in 2010 came after just 21 senior starts for Tigers.

After an England Saxons debut against Portugal in February 2009, Cole played in Churchill Cup in the USA and established himself in Leicester’s senior squad during 2008/09, ending the campaign in the Guinness Premiership Final win over London Irish.

A big performance in a Tigers win over Wasps in 2009/10 then propelled him into the senior England squad and he made his debut as a replacement in opening game of 2010 RBS 6 Nations. Cole started each of the following four games, claiming his first international try in the process.

Shortlisted for PRA Young Player of the Year after being named Tigers Players’ Young Player of the Season 2009/10, Cole played in three successive Premiership Finals from 2010 and became a permanent fixture in the England front row, becoming an ever-present in the Six Nations tournament of 2010, 2011 and 2012.

He played in his first Rugby World Cup in 2011 and ended the 2011/12 season with selection in the ESPN Premiership Dream Team and a starting role in his third Premiership Final.

Gaining experience with England age-groups sides including every game of the 2006 Under-19s Six Nations and IRB World Championships in Dubai, Cole made his Tigers debut in a cup tie at Bath in October 2007, while also enjoying impressive loan spells with Bedford in 2006/07 and 2007/08.