Leicester Tigers

Allen quickly re-established himself among the country’s leading centres after moving to Leicester in 2009, returning to the England reckoning over the next couple of seasons and touring with the national squad in South Africa in the summer of 2012.

He has started the Premiership Final in each of his three seasons with the club – in 2010, 2011 and 2012 – picking up a winner’s medal in the first year.

Allen was named Tigers Players’ Player of the Year in 2010/11 and picked up the Supporters’ Try of the Year award for a solo effort at Bath which began in his own half of the field.

Strong in defence and quick in attack, Allen made his Tigers debut on the opening day of the 2009/10 season at Sale Sharks, scored his first try in the win over Northampton Saints a month later and joined the England Saxons squad for the 2010 Churchill Cup.

After training with the England squad in 2010 and 2011, he ended 2011/12 with a try for Tigers in the Aviva Premiership Final against Harlequins and then played both midweek games for England against South African Barbarians before returning to Leicester.

Born in Southampton, he attended Millfield School and then joined Gloucester, making his debut in a 34-6 victory over Bristol in the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2005/06. He went on to score 22 tries in 91 appearances in his four seasons at Kingsholm and started the Guinness Premiership Final defeat by Tigers in 2006/07.

His England caps were gained in the 2006 autumn internationals against New Zealand and Argentina.