One of the most decorated men in English rugby, England’s World Cup-winning lock collected a sixth Premiership title in 2008/09 and played in his fourth Heineken Cup Final.
The season also saw a recall to the England squad for the summer Tests against Argentina and his selection in the Sky Sports Dream Team for 2008/09.
Passing 250 appearances for the club in the same season, he received the Supporters’ Outstanding Service award in 2009.
Ben made his Tigers debut in September 1999 against Northampton and started 22 games during the historic Double-winning season in 2006/07, scoring a stunning individual try in the EDF Energy Cup Final in April on his 200th appearance. The Heineken Cup semi-final win over Llanelli Scarlets at the Walkers Stadium was his 50th European appearance for the club. He was also an almost ever-present in 2008/09 which finished with appearances in another two major finals.
A member of the 2005 British and Irish Lions squad that toured New Zealand, Ben had previously gained England honours at U-18, U-19, Students, U-21 and A level on his way up to the senior squad. Educated at Merchant Taylor's School and Loughborough University, where he obtained a degree in Sports Science, Ben played his rugby with Waterloo in his native north-west and Queensland University in Australia before joining Tigers.
Kay started six games in England’s 2003 World Cup-winning campaign and played every minute of the 2007 World Cup, including a second successive final.