Ian’ Dosser’ Smith has been honoured in recognition of his work with young rugby players at Leicester Tigers.
As a former Tigers flanker, captain and coach, Smith received the award from the Rugby Development Foundation at their annual dinner at The Falcon Hotel in Uppingham.
Revealing Smith as this year’s award winner, host Matt Poole said: “I had nothing but positive experience of playing with him and being coached by him. He played 331 first-team games for Tigers, coached the team and has been involved the development pathway for players since 1998, working as a lead coach on the Tigers Rugby Camps and with the DPP in Leicester.”
Very few have done so much for the club and it’s young players. Thoroughly deserved. I’d like to think he may buy a round to celebrate!
— simon cohen (@simonjcohen) January 31, 2019
Former colleague Peter Wheeler, another Tigers captain and coach, added: “So many have benefited from the great contribution Dosser has made to the club as a player, coach and with the academy.”
The Rugby Development Foundation event was attended by Tigers past and present, including Mathew Tait, Tom Croft, Matt Smith, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Matt Hampson and Dusty Hare.
Smith is the third winner of the award, following Hare in 2018 and Dave Lyons, the inaugural coach of the Tigers Youth team.
He said: “I am very pleased to accept this award. Leicester Tigers is a very special place and it is extra special to me as someone born just two miles away from the stadium.”
