The longest-serving player in Tigers history, Graham Willars made his debut a month shy of his 20^th birthday in 1959 and finally bowed out in 1987 at the age of 47 after a number of comebacks from retirement.

A regular in the team for more than a decade, back-rower Willars was captain in two spells during 338 appearances for the club and also captained the British Post Office side for seven years. He then spent five years as Leicester coach, including the run to the 1983 Cup Final.

Willars also served as president and as a senior figure in the club’s Old Players’ Association before his death following a long illness in 1997.