Jason Leonard has been a mainstay in the England front row since his debut against Argentina in Buenos Aires in July 1990, a remarkable achievement given the serious neck injury he suffered two years later.
The prop forward, whose accustomed position is loose head although he has also played at tight head, damaged vertebrae and underwent surgery in May 1992 to remove a piece of his hip bone and graft it to the top of his neck.
Lesser mortals would have given up after such a serious injury, but Leonard returned later that year having not even missed a Test match due to the absence of a summer tour and with his ever-present appearance record for England still intact.
That record would stretch to 40 caps until Leonard, whose career has spanned both amateur and professional eras, was rested for England’s Pool B encounter with Western Samoa in June 1995.
Leonard began his career with hometown club Barking and had a spell at Saracens before beginning a 13 year association with Harlequins in 1990. He has played in all but one – Tonga in 1999 – of England’s Rugby World Cup matches since then.
The highlight of his three Rugby World Cup tournaments is unquestionably England’s passage to the final in 1991, a match they narrowly lost 12-6 to Australia at Twickenham. Leonard is the only member of the England team that day still playing professionally.
The former carpenter, who was awarded the MBE for his services to rugby, became the first Englishman and only the third ever player to win 100 caps when he ran out against France in this year’s Six Nations.
Leonard, who turned 35 in August, is now the second most-capped player of all-time and closing fast on the 111 caps won by French centre Philippe Sella.