Leicester Tigers lock Ed Slater admitted he was stunned to win the Goldsmiths Player of the Month award for October.

Slater, who is on loan at Welford Road from Nottingham, won the supporters’ vote ahead of teammates Matt Smith and Tom Croft.

“It was a big surprise,” said 6ft 6in Slater, after receiving a Tag Heuer watch from award sponsor Goldsmiths.

“I was up against Matt Smith and Crofty, who have been playing awesome rugby. When I was told I had won I was pretty happy, that’s for sure.”

Slater started all five of Tigers’ games during October. He made his Heineken Cup debut in the last-gasp victory away to Benetton Treviso and was part of the teams that beat Scarlets and Bath Rugby at Welford Road during that month.

“It is a massive honour to win the player of the month,” Slater said. “I never expected it.

“It is great to be appreciated. The fans vote for it so I was really happy with that.”