Take a look at who England and British Lions legendary prop Jason Leonard picked in his all-time Dream Team in a recent interview.
Leonard is a former English rugby union player who is widely considered one of the greatest props in the history of the sport. He was born on August 14, 1968, in Barking, London, England.
Leonard began playing rugby at an early age and went on to represent his school, Barking Abbey, and his local club, Barking RFC. He quickly made a name for himself as a powerful and aggressive prop forward, and was soon picked up by the Saracens, a professional rugby club based in London.
In 1990, at the age of 21, Leonard made his debut for the England national rugby team in a match against Argentina. He quickly established himself as a key player for the national side, and went on to represent England in four Rugby World Cups, including the team that won the tournament in 2003.
Over the course of his career, Leonard earned 114 caps for England, making him the most capped player in English rugby history. He was also a member of the British and Irish Lions team that toured South Africa in 1997, and was selected for two further Lions tours in 2001 and 2005.
Leonard retired from professional rugby in 2004, having played for the Saracens for 14 seasons. He was widely praised for his strength, durability, and technical ability, and was known for his work ethic and leadership both on and off the field.
After retiring, Leonard went on to become a respected rugby pundit and commentator, and was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2007. He also became involved in various charitable causes, including the Wooden Spoon Society, which supports disadvantaged and disabled children in the UK.
Jason Leonard’s dream XV
FRONT-ROW:
1. Od Du Randt (South Africa)
2. Keith Wood (Ireland)
3. Phil Vickery (England)
Honourable mentions: Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand), Brian Moore (England), Jeff Probyn (England), Paul Rendall (England)
SECOND-ROW:
4. Martin Johnson (England)
5. Maro Itoje (England)
