Tighthead prop Darren Garforth enjoyed a remarkable career in rugby despite turning to the sport late.

A footballer converted into a formidable front-rower, Garforth was the rock upon which a successful pack was built following his Leicester Tigers debut against Northampton Saints in 1991.

The kind of man team-mates would follow into battle knowing they could rely on him, he clocked up 325 appearances for the club, including the Heineken Cup Finals of 1997, 2001 and 2002, and won four Premiership league titles with Leicester as well as domestic cups in 1993 and ’97.

A vital part of the original ABC Club front row alongside Graham Rowntree and Richard Cockerill, Garforth had to wait until beyond his 30^th birthday to make his England international debut, but he went on to win 25 caps and became the first player to make 200 league games in England’s top flight, remaining a lynchpin of the Tigers scrum up to 2003.