Martin Johnson turned down 'huge contract' from Leicester Tigers Premiership rival

Martin Johnson facts:

1. 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. 
2. He briefly played American football for the Leicester Panthers as a tight end or defensive end.
3. 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.
4. 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

Joe Marler Facts:

1. After joining the Quins academy in 2008, the prop spent some time on loan to Esher and Worthing
2. 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.”
3. He is also one of the hosts of The Joe Marler Show podcast with Tom Fordyce
4. In 2020, Marler wrote a book about his life: 

   Loose Head, Confessions of an (un)professional rugby player

5. Marler started his career at Haywards Heath RFC in Sussex where he played in the same side as fellow England international Billy Twelvetrees

#4. Sergio Parisse to Gloucester

Sergio Parisse Facts:

1. He was born in La Plata, capital of Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Italian parents. 
2. In addition to Italian, Parisse speaks Spanish, French and English.
3. In football he supports Inter Milan in Serie A along with the Italian national team.
4. Parisse has been twice nominated for the prestigious World Rugby Player of the Year award,
5. The Italy captain holds the record for most international defeats

#3. Thierry Dusautoir to Leicester Tigers

England's, Toby Flood fall short of the try line and is taken off the field after France's, Thierry Dusautoir landed on him - Photo mandatory by-line: Jan Kruger / Pinnacle - Tel: +44(0)1363 881025 - Mobile: 0797 1270 681 - VAT Reg No: 768 6958 48 - 150309 - SPORT - RUGBY - RBS 6 NATIONS - England v France - Twickenham

#2. Jonah Lomu to Leeds Tykes

Jonah Lomu Facts:

1. He weighed 120 kg and was 1.96 metres tall, but could run 100 metres in 10.8 seconds
2. Lomu only had two All Black caps heading into the Rugby World Cup in 1995
3. He's the only rugby player ever to feature on the front cover of TIME magazine
4. In his career, Lomu scored eight tries against England.
5. Lomu was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame on 9 October 2007

#1.  David Pocock to Wasps