Dan Cole

England centurion Dan Cole has achieved just about everything in a remarkable career which spans 16 years and counting.

He has long been an advocate of the scrum and its value in the modern game, fitting for a man who has embraced all that it means to be a prop. “As the game has changed, the nature of the game’s changed, and here’s a player changing with it,” said Borthwick, shortly after his appointment as Tigers boss. Gatland again put his trust in Cole for an expedition to the home of the world champions in 2017, and though he was unable to add to his tally of three Test caps he more than played his part, offering advice to newcomers Tadhg Furlong and Kyle Sinckler. Cole featured in all of the Lions’ subsequent Tour games, including each of the three Tests, the last of which was a memorable 41-16 triumph over the Green and Gold. He made his international debut in 2010 at the age of just 22 – a remarkably young age for a front-row forward – and celebrated his 100th appearance at Aviva Stadium in Round 5 of the Guinness Six Nations. One of rugby’s more colourful characters, Cole stands alone for having kept pace with the changing laws and pace of the game all while playing in a position which feels the ripples more than most.