Dan Cole (rugby union)

Last updated

Dan Cole
Dan Cole RWC 2011 cropped.jpg
Cole representing England during the Rugby World Cup
Full nameDaniel Richard Cole
Date of birth (1987-05-09) 9 May 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Leicester, England
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) [1]
Weight124 kg (273 lb; 19 st 7 lb) [1]
SchoolKibworth High School
Robert Smyth Academy
Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Current team Leicester Tigers
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2007– Leicester Tigers 329 (25)
2006–2008 → Bedford Blues (loan) 34 (20)
2008–2009 → Nottingham (loan) 5 (0)
Correct as of 2 December 2024
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2006 England U19 4 (0)
2009–2010 England Saxons 4 (5)
2010– England 116 (20)
2010 England XV 1 (0)
2013–2017 British & Irish Lions 3 (0)
Correct as of 3 November 2024
Medal record
Men's Rugby union
Representing Flag of England.svg  England
Rugby World Cup
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2019 Japan Squad

Daniel Richard Cole (born 9 May 1987) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Premiership Rugby club Leicester Tigers and the England national team. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Cole has been part of multiple Six Nations Championship campaigns and contributed to England’s successes, including victories in 2017 and 2020 and the Grand Slam in 2016. Predominantly playing as a tighthead prop, he has also earned caps for England in over 100 test matches and notably represented the British & Irish Lions on two separate tours to Australia and New Zealand. [5] [6]

Club career

Cole's first team début came in the October 2007 EDF Energy Cup pool match against Bath. [7] 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. [2] In January 2009, Cole was loaned to Nottingham R.F.C. [8] and subsequently returned to Leicester later in the season to feature as a replacement as Tigers beat London Irish by a single point in the final of the 2008–09 Premiership. [9]

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 Wasps. [10] In February 2010, Cole signed a new contract. [11] The Tigers went on to retain their league title winning the 2009–10 Premiership final 33–27 against Saracens, where Cole again came on as a replacement for Castrogiovanni. [12] In 2013 Cole won his third Premiership title on this occasion starting in the victory over local rivals Northampton Saints. [13]

Cole won the Outstanding Service Award at the end of the 2016/17 season. [14]

Cole started the 2022 Premiership Rugby final as Tigers beat Saracens 15-12, with Cole winning his fourth title. [15] On 17 December 2022 Cole made his 300th appearance for Leicester, only the 36th player to achieve the feat, in a 23-16 win against Clermont Auvergne. [16]

International career

England

Cole was a member of the squad that finished third at the 2006 Under 19 Rugby World Championship [17] and the following year represented the England under-20 team in the Six Nations Under 20s Championship. [18] In January 2009 he made his debut for the England Saxons against Portugal [19] and later that year started all three games at the 2009 Churchill Cup, including the final against Ireland A. [20]

Cole was promoted to the Senior Squad for the 2010 Six Nations Championship as injury cover for Tigers squadmate Julian White [21] [22] and made his senior England debut as a replacement for David Wilson in England's 30–17 win over Wales in the opening round of the tournament on 6 February 2010. [23] [24] He played in all subsequent games in the 2010 Six Nations, earning his first start against Italy [24] and scoring his first international try in what was also his first home start against Ireland, [25] and began to cement his place as England's first-choice tighthead.

Cole was taken on the 2010 summer tour of Australia and played in both matches. [26] Although England lost the first game, [27] Cole put in a strong performance which saw the England scrum gain an unprecedented two penalty tries. [27] The second Test saw England beat Australia 20–21. [28] He was a member of the side that won the 2011 Six Nations Championship missing out on a grand slam with defeat in the final round against Ireland. [29] He was included in the squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup [30] and started in their quarter-final elimination against France. [31]

Cole won his fiftieth cap in the final round of the 2015 Six Nations Championship against France [32] as England finished runners up in the tournament. [33] He was included in Stuart Lancaster's 31-man squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup [34] and went on to start in all four of their pool games as the hosts failed to reach the knock out phase. [35]

Cole was included in new coach Eddie Jones's 31-man squad for the 2016 Six Nations [36] and scored a try in the final game against France as England completed the grand slam. [37] Cole was included in the 2016 tour of Australia; [38] he played in the one-off test against Wales at Twickenham, which also saw a debut for Leicester teammate Ellis Genge, [39] and started in all three tests in Australia. Cole scored a try in the final test of the series in which England whitewashed the Wallabies for the first time. [40] The following year saw Cole score a try against Italy during the 2017 Six Nations Championship [41] as the team eventually retained their title [42] missing out on a consecutive grand slam with defeat in the final game away to Ireland which also brought an end to a record equalling eighteen successive Test victories. [42]

Although Cole was dropped from England's international team at the end of 2018, [43] a resurgence in form saw him re-selected for the 2019 Six Nations Championship. [44] Cole's continued good form saw him chosen for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, for what would be his third Rugby World Cup. [45] On 26 September 2019, in a World Cup pool match against the United States, Cole became England's joint-third highest capped player with 91 international appearances. [46] In the World Cup final starter Kyle Sinckler was knocked unconscious after two minutes and replaced by Cole for the remainder of the game [47] as England were defeated by South Africa to finish runners up. [48]

On 7 August 2023, Cole was named in England's squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. [49]

British and Irish Lions

Cole was one of 37 players selected to represent the Lions on their 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia [50] and featured in all three Tests as the Lions won their first series for sixteen years. [51]

In 2017 Cole was selected for the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, [52] he did not make the test team but featured in five non-capped tour games. Overall he played fourteen times for the Lions on the 2013 and 2017 tours winning three caps. [53]

Career statistics

List of international tries

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetitionRef.
127 February 2010 Twickenham Stadium, London, EnglandIRFU flag.svg  Ireland 11–1316–20 2010 Six Nations Championship [25]
219 March 2016 Stade de France, Paris, FranceFlag of France.svg  France 15–631–21 2016 Six Nations Championship [37]
325 June 2016 Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, AustraliaFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 5–044–40 2016 England rugby union tour of Australia [40]
426 February 2017 Twickenham Stadium, London, EnglandFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 5–036–15 2017 Six Nations Championship [41]

as of 7 July 2019 [54]

Honours

England
Leicester Tigers

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Corry (rugby union)</span> British Lions & England international rugby union player

Martin Edward Corry MBE is a retired English rugby union player who represented and captained England and Leicester Tigers in a career spanning 14 seasons. Corry played 64 times for England between 1997 and 2007, played 7 tests for the British & Irish Lions on tours in 2001 & 2005, and played 290 times for Leicester between 1997 and 2009. Earlier in his career he played top division rugby for Newcastle Gosforth and Bristol. A versatile player his principal positions were number eight and blindside flanker, he also played lock more as his career progressed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Croft</span> British Lions & England international rugby union player

Tom Croft is a retired rugby union player. He played 173 games for Leicester Tigers between 2005–17 winning four Premiership Rugby titles, played 40 times for England between 2008–2015, was part of the squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and the British & Irish Lions in 2009 to South Africa and 2013 to Australia. His career was somewhat plagued with a variety of minor and serious injuries.

Thomas Nicholas Youngs is a retired rugby union player who played as a hooker for Leicester Tigers and England. Between 2012–2015 he won 28 caps for England, including selection for the 2015 Rugby World Cup and was selected for the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia where he played in all three test matches. He played 215 times for Leicester between 2006 and 2021, winning the Premiership Rugby title in 2013, the same season that he was named as the league's Player of the season. He also won the 2011-12 Anglo-Welsh Cup with Leicester. Between 2009 and 2011 Youngs played 55 matches for Nottingham where he converted from centre to hooker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Youngs</span> British Lions & England international rugby union player

Benjamin Ryder Youngs is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for Premiership Rugby club Leicester Tigers, and is the all time appearance record holder with 127 caps for the England national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manu Tuilagi</span> England international rugby union player

Etuale Manusamoa Tuilagi is a professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for Top 14 club Bayonne. Born in Samoa, he represented England at international level after qualifying on residency grounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Courtney Lawes</span> English rugby union player

Courtney Linford Lawes is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for Pro D2 club CA Brive and formerly for the England national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Ford (rugby union)</span> England international rugby union footballer

George Thomas Ford is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Premiership Rugby club Sale Sharks and the England national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonny May</span> England international rugby union player

Jonathan James May is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for Pro D2 club Soyaux Angoulême and formerly for the England national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie George</span> British Lions & England international rugby union player

Jamie Edward George is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Premiership Rugby club Saracens and captains the England national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mako Vunipola</span> British Lions & England international rugby union player

Mako Vunipola is a professional rugby union player who plays as a loosehead prop for French club Vannes in the Top 14 He previously played for the England national team. Born in New Zealand to Tongan parents, he qualified for England through residency having lived and been educated in Wales and then England since the age of 7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Kruis</span> British Lions & England international rugby union player

George Edward John Kruis is an English former professional rugby union player. He played lock for Saracens and represented England and the British & Irish Lions. He was almost always used as a jumper in the line-out due to his height and athleticism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Slade (rugby union)</span> England international rugby union player (born 1993)

Henry James Harvey Slade is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for Premiership Rugby club Exeter Chiefs and the England national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Joseph (rugby union)</span> British Lions & England international rugby union player

Jonathan Byron Alexander Joseph is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for Pro D2 club Biarritz. He played more than fifty games for England between 2012 and 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Nowell</span> British Lions & England international rugby union player

Jack Thomas Nowell is an English professional rugby union player for Top 14 side La Rochelle. He also represents England. His position of choice is wing but he can also play as a full-back or outside centre.

Luke Anthony Cowan-Dickie is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Premiership Rugby club Sale Sharks and the England national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Vunipola</span> England international rugby union player

Viliami Vunipola is a professional rugby union player who plays as a number eight for the Top 14 side Montpellier. Born in Australia, he represents England at international level after qualifying on residency grounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Watson (rugby union)</span> British Lions & England international rugby union player

Anthony Kenneth Chisom Watson is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a wing or fullback for Leicester Tigers and the England national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Sinckler</span> British Lions & England international rugby union player

Kyle Norval Jonathan Sean Sinckler is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Top 14 club Toulon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellis Genge</span> England international rugby union player

Ellis Genge is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Premiership Rugby club Bristol Bears and the England national team.

George Frederick Martin is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for Premiership Rugby club Leicester Tigers and the England national team.

References

  1. 1 2 "Dan Cole player profile". rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Tigers Squad – Dan Cole". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
  3. ↑ "England v Wales v rugby: Does a class divide still separate the sport in the two rival nations?". Wales Online. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  4. ↑ John Westerby (1 February 2014). "England trying to help legacy by appealing to everyone". The Times. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  5. ↑ "Cole hailed as one of best in the world". RBS 6 Nations. 26 December 2012. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  6. ↑ "England international Dan Cole agrees Leicester Tigers deal on day of five signings". Leicester Mercury. 13 November 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  7. ↑ Williamson, Sam (12 February 2021). "Full circle: Cole and coach recall Dan's debut". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  8. ↑ "Cole and Youngs on Loan". Nottingham RFC. 9 January 2009. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
  9. 1 2 Palmer, Bryn (16 May 2009). "Leicester 10-9 London Irish". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  10. ↑ "Leicester 34–8 Wasps". BBC Sport. 9 January 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  11. ↑ "England trio secure new Leicester Tigers deals". BBC Sport. 1 February 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  12. 1 2 Standley, James (29 May 2010). "Leicester 33-27 Saracens". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  13. 1 2 Osborne, Chris (25 May 2013). "Aviva Premiership final: Leicester 37-17 Northampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  14. ↑ "Share your #Welford125 memories with Tigers". Leicester Tigers. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  15. ↑ "Premiership final: Leicester Tigers 15-12 Saracens - Freddie Burns drop-goal clinches title". BBC Sport. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  16. ↑ Morgan, Charlie (17 December 2022). "Jasper Wiese stars as Leicester squeeze past Clermont" . Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  17. ↑ "New Zealand U19 24-11 England U19". BBC Sport. 18 April 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  18. ↑ "Wales U20 21-21 England U20". BBC Sport. 16 March 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  19. ↑ "England Saxons 66–0 Portugal". BBC Sport. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  20. ↑ "Ireland A 49–22 England Saxons". BBC Sport. 21 June 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  21. ↑ "Senior England EPS Update". RFU Official site. 25 January 2010. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  22. ↑ "Steve Borthwick retained as England captain". BBC Sport. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  23. ↑ Palmer, Bryn (6 February 2010). "England 30–17 Wales". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  24. 1 2 Kitson, Robert (10 February 2010). "Leicester's Dan Cole gets first start for England in Italy match". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  25. 1 2 Rees, Paul (27 February 2010). "Tommy Bowe's try for Ireland ends England's grand slam hopes". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  26. ↑ "England pick nine uncapped players for summer tour". BBC Sport. 11 May 2010. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  27. 1 2 Standley, James (12 June 2010). "Australia 27-17 England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  28. ↑ Palmer, Bryn (19 June 2010). "Australia 20-21 England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  29. 1 2 Standley, James (19 March 2011). "2011 Six Nations: Ireland 24-8 England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  30. ↑ Palmer, Bryn (22 August 2011). "Rugby World Cup 2011: Johnson omits Flutey from England squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  31. ↑ Fordyce, Tom (8 October 2011). "Rugby World Cup 2011: England 12-19 France". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  32. ↑ "Six Nations 2015: England bring in Geoff Parling against France". BBC Sport. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  33. ↑ Fordyce, Tom (21 March 2015). "Six Nations 2015: England 55-35 France". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  34. ↑ Eccleshare, Charlie (27 August 2015). "England Rugby World Cup squad: as it happened - Sam Burgess, George Kruis and Kieran Brookes selected". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  35. ↑ Rees, Paul (31 August 2019). "England have unity that was absent in 2015 World Cup, says Dan Cole". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  36. ↑ "Six Nations 2016: Josh Beaumont in new-look England squad". BBC Sport. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  37. 1 2 3 Fordyce, Tom (19 March 2016). "Six Nations 2016: England win Grand Slam with France victory". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  38. ↑ Kitson, Robert (22 May 2016). "Ben Te'o among four uncapped players for England's tour of Australia". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  39. ↑ Dirs, Ben (29 May 2016). "England 27-13 Wales: Hosts score five tries but Ford misfires". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  40. 1 2 Standley, James (25 June 2016). "England beat Australia 44-40 in final Test to complete series whitewash". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  41. 1 2 Fordyce, Tom (26 February 2017). "Six Nations 2017: England 36-15 Italy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  42. 1 2 3 Fordyce, Tom (18 March 2017). "Six Nations 2017: Ireland 13-9 England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  43. ↑ de Menezes, Jack (2 August 2018). "Eddie Jones lays out Chris Ashton's England return and explains why tour absentees remain out of his squad". The Independent. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  44. ↑ Lowe, Alex (26 September 2019). "England props Joe Marler and Dan Cole return from wilderness to claim front-row seats". The Times. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  45. ↑ Jones, Chris (12 August 2019). "Rugby World Cup: England leave out Te'o, name Ludlam & McConnochie in squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  46. ↑ "Ben Youngs praises Dan Cole with England duo set to equal Jonny Wilkinson caps tally". Sky Sports. 26 September 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  47. ↑ Latham-Coyle, Harry (2 November 2019). "Kyle Sinckler injury: England prop knocked out two minutes into Rugby World Cup final vs South Africa". The Independent. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  48. 1 2 Fordyce, Tom (2 November 2019). "England 12-32 South Africa: Springboks win World Cup for record-equalling third time". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  49. ↑ "England World Cup squad: Henry Slade & Alex Dombrandt miss out, Joe Marchant & Theo Dan in". BBC Sport. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  50. ↑ Rees, Paul (30 April 2013). "Jonny Wilkinson turned down Lions chance, says Warren Gatland". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  51. ↑ Palmer, Bryn (6 July 2013). "British and Irish Lions thrash Australia to seal series win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  52. ↑ "British and Irish Lions 2017: Sam Warburton captain, Dylan Hartley out". BBC Sport. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  53. ↑ "Dan Cole Lions profile". Lions Rugby. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  54. ↑ "ESPN profile:Dan Cole". ESPN. Archived from the original on 24 April 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.