Leicester Tigers are saddened to hear of the death of former player Leighton Jenkins, aged 88.

Capped five times by Wales during his time as a No8 at Newport, Leighton scored six tries in 31 appearances for Tigers in the 1958/59 season, playing mostly alongside David Matthews and Gordon Almey in the back row in a team led by Ian Swan.

He was elected captain for the start of the following campaign, but took a commission in the RAF and managed just one further appearance for the club as Tom Bleasdale regained the captaincy.

Jenkins had played for Leicestershire in 1955 while at Loughborough and returned to the area with a teaching appointment at Oakham when he linked up with the Tigers.

He had made 114 appearances for Newport before moving across the border and was captain when the Black & Ambers beat Australia 11-0 in 1957.

He reached the rank of Wing Commander in the RAF before retiring in 1986 and lived in Lincolnshire for many years.

Tigers send condolences to family, friends and former colleagues in both England and Wales.