Dan Cole (rugby union)
| File:Dan Cole RWC 2011 cropped.jpg | |||
| Argentina vs England at 2011 Rugby World Cup | |||
| Full name | Daniel Cole | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 9 May 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Leicester, England | ||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[1] | ||
| Weight | 123 kg (19 st 5 lb)[2] | ||
| School | Robert Smyth School Q.E |
||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Tighthead prop | ||
| Youth clubs | |||
| South Leicester RFC | |||
| Professional / senior clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2007– | Leicester Tigers | 134 | (10) |
| correct as of 27 August 2015. | |||
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2009- 2010- 2013 |
England A England British and Irish Lions |
4 56 3 |
(0) (5) (0) |
| correct as of 10 October 2015. | |||
Dan Cole (born 9 May 1987) is an English rugby union player who plays at prop for Leicester Tigers in the Aviva Premiership and for England national rugby union team internationally. Cole is known for his scrummaging ability, as well as his proficiency at the breakdown. His former coach at Leicester has described him as one of the finest tighthead props in world rugby.[3]
Club career
Born 9 May 1987 in Leicester, Cole's first team début came in the October 2007 EDF Energy Cup pool match against Bath. Most of the 2007–08 season was spent on loan to Bedford Blues and it was the beginning of the 2008–09 season before Cole played for the first team again. Cole was involved in most of the games in the first half of the season.[4] In January 2009, Cole was loaned to Nottingham R.F.C.[5] Cole played in the final of the 2008–09 Guinness Premiership.[6]
Through injury to Leicester tight-heads Julian White and Martin Castrogiovanni, Cole achieved a run of games during the 2009–10 season which saw him gain notoriety as man-of-the-match against London Wasps.[7] In February 2010, Cole signed a new contract.[8]
The Tigers went on to win the 2009-10 Guinness Premiership final 33–27 against Saracens, where Cole came on as a replacement for Castrogiovanni.[9]
International career
Having played for England at under-18, under-19 and under-20[4] Cole was selected in January 2009 to make his debut for the England Saxons, against Portugal.[10]
Cole started in all three games at the 2009 Churchill Cup, including the final against Ireland A.[11]
He was promoted to the Senior Squad for the 2010 Six Nations Championship as injury cover for Tigers squadmate Julian White[12] and made his senior England debut as a replacement for Dave Wilson in England's 30–17 win over Wales on 6 February 2010.[13] He played in all subsequent games in the 2010 Six Nations, even scoring his first international try in what was also his first home start against Ireland,[14] and began to cement his place as England's first-choice tighthead.
He was taken on the summer tour to Australia, and played in both matches. Although England lost the first game,[15] Cole put in a strong performance which saw the England scrum gain an unprecedented two penalty tries. The following Test saw England beat Australia 20–21.[16] Cole had a cut to the head within the first five minutes of the game, and needed to be continually substituted for blood injury, but pressed on, despite his left eye closing up almost completely. Captain and Tigers team-mate Lewis Moody commented on how the team were inspired by Cole's perseverance.[17]
He was one of 37 players selected to represent the Lions on the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.[18]
References
- ↑ http://www.leicestertigers.com/rugby/leicester_tigers_senior_squad.php?player=33339&includeref=dynamic
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