A Leicester Tigers academy graduate, tighthead prop Dan Cole came through the ranks of his hometown club to establish his place at the very highest level with club, country and the British & Irish Lions.

Dan played junior rugby at South Leicester and progressed to the Tigers academy, gaining valuable experience on loan at Bedford and made his Leicester debut in a cup tie at Bath in October 2007 before joining the senior squad during the 2008/09 season alongside international tighthead props Julian White and Martin Castrogivanni.

He ended that campaign in his first Premiership Final as Tigers beat London Irish to lift the silverware.

A league title winner again in 2010 and for a third time in 2013, Dan made his 100th club appearance in a Heineken Cup win over Toulouse in January 2013 and ended the season in another Premiership Final, celebrating with victory over Northampton Saints before joining the triumphant Lions tour to Australia where he played in all three Tests.

He went on a second Lions tour in the summer of 2017, this time for the drawn series in New Zealand.

Dan was Tigers’ Players’ Young Player of the Year in 2009/10 when he was also shortlisted for PRA Young Player of the Year, and recipient of the club’s Outstanding Service award in 2016/17.

After an England Saxons debut against Portugal in February 2009, he went to the Churchill Cup in the USA and stepped up to make his Test debut in the 2010 Six Nations after just 21 senior starts for Leicester.

He was an ever-present in Six Nations fixtures for the next four seasons, as well as playing in his first World Cup in 2011. His 50th cap came during the 2015 Six Nations before heading for his second Rugby World Cup.

He shared in England’s Grand Slam of 2016 and was an ever-present in a record unbeaten run up to the final round of the 2017 Six Nations and now has 95 caps to go with three in the colours of the Lions.