The former Tigers and England captain has topped the voting for the hooker’s spot in the Walk of Legends, which will be located on the approach to the new Caterpillar Stand at Welford Road.
Wheeler topped the voting in the Leicester Mercury, ahead of Richard Cockerill, Doug Norman and Sid Penny.
“To be part of any Leicester Tigers team was always a great privilege and honour, and to be voted into the Walk of Legends XV gives you a nice feeling, especially as you feel it is unlikely that people could remember that far back – and also to have been able to get ahead of Richard Cockerill in the voting!” said Wheeler who made 349 appearances for Leicester from his debut in 1969 and is now the club’s chief executive.
“It is unfortunate for the other strong candidates, Sid Penny and Doug Norman, who both played an enormous number of games for the club and gave fantastic service, that their careers were so long ago that supporters will not have been able to see them in action which could have elevated them in the voting.
“I always feel that, having played for and belonging to this club, there is a great sense of history and tradition built up over more than 125 years and I feel proud to be associated with legendary figures of the past and the great players of the present.”
Wheeler captained Tigers in three successive cup-winning years and scored 589 points for the club, including 66 tries, 61 conversions and 69 penalties.
He famously led the Midlands, gained 41 caps for England – including the captaincy in 1983/84 – and played in seven Tests on two Lions tours.
Wheeler joins Graham Rowntree, Dusty Hare, Rory Underwood, Sir Clive Woodward, Paul Dodge, John Duggan, Bleddyn Jones and Austin Healey in the Walk of Legends XV.
Supporters can also join the Walk of Legends by purchasing an exclusive engraved commemorative brick to lie alongside the names of the club’s greatest-ever players. Add your own name and a personalised message or celebrate a birthday or anniversary.
Or buy a place among the legends for a friend or relative as a perfect gift for a Tigers supporter. We can also supply a replica to keep at home.
Prices are from £44.95 for a single brick or £79.95 for a double brick.
To download an order form for a Walk of Legends commemorative brick, click here
Voting this week is to find the tighthead prop for the Walk of Legends. See the Mercury website for details and place your vote.
