Jump to Main ContentJump to Primary Navigation
leicestertigers.comMattioli Woods Welford RoadHotelContact UsTopps Tiles
Player News

Ford drops into Tigers record books

George Ford’s drop goal was a pivotal moment in the victory over Exeter Chiefs and it also gave the fly-half a place in the Leicester Tigers history books.

Ford’s three-pointer, which helped Tigers to a 20-13 win against the defending Aviva Premiership champions, came six years and 27 days after his previous drop goal for the club, which was also against Exeter at Welford Road.

It is the second longest gap between drop goals in Tigers history, according to club historian and statistician Stuart Farmer.

Percy Lawrie, the club’s record try-scorer, scored his 6th drop goal away to Manchester on January 2, 1912 but did not land another one for eight years and 93 first-team appearances until he did so against Northampton at Welford Road in April 1921.

John Allen holds the record for most appearances between drop goals. His first came against the RAF at Welford Road in March 1970 on his 264th appearance for the club and his second came 158 games later at Nottingham in September 1974.

Geordan Murphy appears twice in the list of the nine longest gaps between drop goals. His first drop goal was against Coventry in the Pilkington Cup in 1998 but his next was four years and 290 days later away to Saracens in October 2002.

Murphy landed his third drop goal later that season, against London Irish at Welford Road on May 3, but his fourth was not until January 6, 2008 against Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop.

Time

Name

From

To

8y 97d

Percy Lawrie

2 Jan 1913

9 Apr 1921

6y 27d

George Ford

3 Sep 2011

30 Sep 2017

5y 56d

Brian Small

14 Jan 1956

11 Mar 1961

5y 47d

John Liley

4 Sep 1990

21 Oct 1995

4y 290d

Geordan Murphy

10 Jan 1998

27 Oct 2002

5y 254d

Mike Wade

7 Apr 1955

17 Dec 1960

4y 248d

Geordan Murphy

3 May 2003

6 Jan 2008

4y 189d

John Allen

20 Mar 1970

25 Sep 1974

4y 58d

Paul Dodge

5 Dec 1981

1 Feb 1986

Statistics c/o Stuart Farmer/SFMS