A scrum-half who became a pre-eminent Leicester Tigers coach, Herbert Victor ‘Chalkie’ White left an indelible mark in a 25-year association with the club.

After serving in the Navy, White became a teacher in Nottingham and made 147 appearances for Leicester from 1957 before illness forced his retirement six years later. He quickly moved into coaching, though, and a legend was born.

Working closely with Colin Martin and David Matthews, in the late 1960s, White forged a new way forward which reached its climax with appearances in four successive cup finals up to 1981 with a squad including Peter Wheeler, Les Cusworth, Dusty Hare, Clive Woodward, Steve Kenney and Paul Dodge.

White also led the Midlands to victory over Australia in 1975 and Argentina a year later, though still missed out on the top job as England coach. He did, though, work for the RFU as a staff coach and his contribution to the Tigers was recognised with life membership and then a thanksgiving service in the city’s cathedral following his death in 2005.