There are not many players who can boast a try on their debut for a new club, but that is exactly how Ayoola Erinle introduced himself to Leicester Tigers, in the win over Bristol at the Memorial Ground on the opening day of the 2007/08 campaign following his move from London Wasps.

The powerful centre or winger also scored in the Guinness Premiership victory over Gloucester at Kingsholm and in the defeat at London Irish during his first season with Tigers. 

He had spent five years at Wasps and will have cause to remember several encounters with Tigers, not least when he suffered a broken leg in a game against his future employers during November 2006 and then confirming his return to fitness with a try in defeat at Welford Road the following May. He also scored a try that ended Tigers’ hopes of Powergen Cup glory in the semi-final stage at the Millennium Stadium in 2005/06.

His finishing power brought 11 tries in 19 appearances for Wasps during 2004/05, while his final total reads 26 tries in 106 games for the Londoners.

Born in Nigeria, he moved to the UK at 18 months of age and began playing rugby at the Oratory School in Reading. He has also enjoyed spells with Henley Hawks, Reading and Kings College Rugby Club.

Ayoola was a member of the England Saxons side that won the 2007 Churchill Cup, having already represented his country at that level in 2005 and ’06, and on the Sevens circuit aged just 19. He gained Sevens honours again in 2008, returning from one leg of the IRB series in time to dot down that important score at Gloucester.

Outside of rugby, Ayoola appeared on the TV show Countdown on three occasions in 2003.