Leicester Tigers legend Martin Johnson has revealed history could have been very different as he was offered ‘huge money’ to depart Welford Road when the game turned professional.
The former England captain revealed on the ‘Building Jerusalem’ documentary that he was called by Newcastle Falcons and Richmond when the game went professional in 1996.
Despite a big-money offer from Falcons then owner Sir John hall, the second-row was settled where he was and stayed at Welford Road.
Martin Johnson facts:
- Johnson comes from a sporting family. His great-grandfather was a wrestler. His younger brother Will is also a former back row forward for Leicester.
- He briefly played American football for the Leicester Panthers as a tight end or defensive end.
- Johnson was selected for the New Zealand under-21 side which went on a tour of Australia playing a side that included another of the all-time great lock forwards, John Eales.
- His first job wa working in a nuts and bolts factory as a schoolboy
FOUR OTHER HUGE TRANSFERS THAT ALMOST HAPPENED:
#5. Joe Marler to Sale Sharks
Marler’s agent reportedly visited the Sale training ground in 2018 with the Sharks reportedly willing to pay a fee to sign the England loosehead. However, the move collapsed as the two clubs could not agree on the transfer fee.
Joe Marler Facts:
- After joining the Quins academy in 2008, the prop spent some time on loan to Esher and Worthing
- He’s been nicknamed Croissant. In his own words, it’s because: “The boys think I have a nose that looks like a French pastry.”
- He is also one of the hosts of The Joe Marler Show podcast with Tom Fordyce
- In 2020, Marler wrote a book about his life: Loose Head, Confessions of an (un)professional rugby player
- Marler started his career at Haywards Heath RFC in Sussex where he played in the same side as fellow England international Billy Twelvetrees