Dan Cole 'eye-gouged' in horrific incident against Glasgow Warriors

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The flashpoint came just two minutes into Leicester Tigers’ Champions Cup round-of-16 clash against Glasgow Warriors, with emotions already running high in a physical encounter at Welford Road.

As Leicester looked to power over the line through a series of close-range carries, a ruck formed just metres short of the Glasgow try line. Cole, 36, found himself wedged beneath a pile of bodies, stuck at the base with no means of escape.

Lying next to him was Glasgow’s South African powerhouse Henco Venter, who appeared to reach toward Cole’s face during the breakdown. Footage shows the England tighthead clutching his eye immediately after contact.

The moment might’ve flown under the radar had it not been flagged by former England fly-half Andy Goode, who was on commentary duty for Premier Sports. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Goode said:

You can watch the incident below — and decide for yourself.

Dan Cole is a Leicester Tigers legend and one of England’s most capped props, known for his scrummaging strength and unflappable temperament. Born on May 9, 1987, in Leicester, he has made over 100 appearances for England since debuting in 2010 and was part of the squads that reached the Rugby World Cup final in 2019 and 2023.

Still going strong at 36, Cole has been a crucial figure in Tigers’ resurgence and remains one of Steve Borthwick’s most trusted front-row options. He's currently Leicester’s most experienced forward, bringing a wealth of leadership and grit to every contest.

As of now, there's been no official comment from the match officials or citing commissioner — but if Venter is found guilty of foul play, a lengthy ban could follow.

We'll keep you posted with updates as they come in.

1. Ollie Lawrence – Achilles injury ends Lions dream

England centre Ollie Lawrence was widely tipped to make Farrell’s Lions squad before suffering a devastating injury. The Bath star ruptured his left Achilles tendon just nine minutes into England’s 47-24 Six Nations win over Italy, ruling him out for up to a year.

A Premiership Player of the Season in 2023, Lawrence had become a key figure for Steve Borthwick’s England. His explosive running, defensive solidity, and hard-carrying ability made him a strong candidate for the tour. However, with the Lions series beginning in just over three months, his injury has ended any chance of selection.

Lawrence expressed his disappointment on social media: "Lost for words… That’s not how I imagined my season to end! The comeback is always greater than the setback."

Surprise Fact: Lawrence was once in Aston Villa’s football academy before choosing rugby.

Despite making an impressive comeback with Montpellier in the Top 14 after reversing his retirement, off-field issues will rule him out of contention for selection by Lions head coach Andy Farrell, according to RUCK sources.

Surprise Fact: In a tweet, J. K. Rowling insinuated that Hogg was, in fact, a full-fledged Wizard

Welsh fly-half Dan Biggar ruled himself out of the 2025 Lions tour after retiring from international rugby in 2023. With 112 caps for Wales and two previous Lions tours (2017, 2021), he would have been a strong contender for Farrell’s squad. However, he’s enjoying his time in France with Toulon and has no plans to return.

Speaking to TalkSport, Biggar confirmed his decision: "That chapter has closed for me. When I retired from Wales, I thought I might miss it, but I haven’t. I’m really enjoying life in France and the media work I’m doing. If I had stepped away from Wales and missed it, things might have been different. But I feel it was the right time to move on."

Biggar remains a key player for Toulon, where his leadership and tactical kicking continue to impress.

Surprise Fact: Biggar’s pre-kick routine, the ‘Biggar Shuffle,’ was inspired by Elvis Presley.

England No. 8 Zach Mercer will miss the Lions tour after being ruled out for the season with a knee injury. Gloucester confirmed in December that Mercer, who had an outside shot at selection despite being overlooked by England, won’t return this season.

Once named Top 14 Player of the Year with Montpellier, Mercer returned to England in 2023 to chase a World Cup spot but was ignored by Steve Borthwick. Now, Toulon are prepared to buy out his Gloucester contract, meaning Mercer could soon be back in French rugby.

Despite his injury, Mercer was voted Gloucester’s Player of the Year in his debut season, proving his popularity with fans.

Surprise Fact: Mercer captained England U20s to victory in the 2017 World Rugby U20 Championship, beating New Zealand in the semi-finals.

Veteran prop Joe Marler was a bookies’ favourite to make the 2025 Lions tour, but his international retirement has ended any hopes of a call-up. The 90-cap England loosehead announced his Test retirement after the 2024 Six Nations, confirming he won’t be available for selection.

A dominant scrummager and larger-than-life character, Marler was part of England’s 2019 Rugby World Cup final squad and remained in contention for Steve Borthwick’s team until recently. After missing out on the 2017 and 2021 Lions tours, this was likely his last chance to wear the famous red jersey.

Despite his absence, Marler remains a key figure at Harlequins, where his experience and set-piece prowess continue to be invaluable.

Surprise Fact: Marler once dyed his hair bright blue to raise awareness for mental health charities, showing his commitment to supporting mental well-being in rugby.