The former England and Lions international has been voted into the loosehead prop spot by readers of the Leicester Mercury ahead of other shortlisted contenders Robin Cowling, Roger Grove and Stuart Redfern.
Famously a member of the front-row ABC Club, Rowntree made 398 appearances for Leicester in 17 years from 1990. He played in three Heineken Cup finals, four Pilkington Cup finals and was a member of five championship-winning squads, as well as becoming the first Tigers player to reach 50 appearances in the Heineken Cup.
“It is a great honour to be selected in the Walk of Legends,” said Rowntree, now England’s scrum coach.
“The greatest honour I had in my career was playing for Leicester Tigers and winning trophies with that bunch of players.
“There have been some incredible players wearing the Tigers shirt over the years and it is a great privilege to be selected in that Legends XV.”
Rowntree selected the first Heineken Cup Final win in 2001 as the highlight of his time in the Tigers team.
“It was the highlight of my whole career, full stop,” he said. “That victory was a fantastic achievement by the whole squad.”
Rowntree joins Dusty Hare, Rory Underwood, Sir Clive Woodward, Paul Dodge, John Duggan, Bleddyn Jones and Austin Healey in the Walk of Legends XV.
Supporters can join the Walk of Legends by purchasing an exclusive engraved commemorative brick to lie alongside the names of the club’s greatest-ever players in the approach to the new Caterpillar Stand.
Add your own name and a personalised message or celebrate a birthday or anniversary.
Or buy a place in the Walk of Legends for a friend or relative as a 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
