Neil Back

Neil Back

Neil Back celebrating the English world cup victory in 2003.
Full name	Neil Antony Back MBE
Date of birth	(1969-01-16) 16 January 1969 (age 48)
Place of birth	Coventry, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight	93 kg (205 lb; 14.6 st)
School	Woodlands School, Coventry
Occupation(s)	Professional Rugby Union Coach
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Openside flanker
Amateur clubs Years Club / team     Correct as of 25 June 2014
Professional / senior clubs Years Club / team Caps (points) 1988-1990 1990–2005 Nottingham RFC Leicester Tigers 8 339 ( 8 ) 615 Correct as of 25 June 2014
National team(s) Years Club / team Caps (points) 1994–2003 1997-2005 England British and Irish Lions 66 5 (83) (5) Correct as of 25 June 2014
Coaching career Years Club / team     2003-2008 2008–2011 2011–2012 2012-2013 Leicester Tigers Leeds Carnegie Rugby Lions Edinburgh Rugby Correct as of 5 July 2012

Neil Antony Back MBE (born 16 January 1969) is a former international rugby union footballer for England and the British and Irish Lions who also played for Nottingham RFC, Leicester Tigers, and captained both England and Leicester during his career.

Post World Cup victory with England in 2003 he took on the role of Player/Defensive Coach for Leicester Tigers until he decided to retire following an illustrious 17 year first class playing career. One of his final games saw him become the oldest Test British Lion in the history of the game in the 1st Test Match verses New Zealand whilst on the 2005 Tour.

During his international career he played in three World Cups - SA'95, FR'99 & AUS'03 where he was an integral part of the 2003 World Cup winning side. He also went on three British and Irish Lions Tours - SA'97 Winners, AUS'01 & NZ'05. He gained 66 caps for England, captaining them to victory four times, scored 16 tries and 1 drop goal (the only England Forward to do so in a Test Match in the history of the game). He played as an openside flanker. He is married to Alison who together have a daughter, Olivia who joined him on the winning podium in 2003 & a son, Finley.

Retirement from playing allowed him to concentrate on his future, seeing him continue his role as Assistant Coach at Leicester Tigers whilst gaining all of the RFU Coaching Awards and now has over a decade of coaching experience.

Back was born in Coventry, where he attended The Woodlands School between September 1980 and July 1987. During his time at the school, he also played football, cricket, basketball, athletics and cross country before opting to strive to gain international status in rugby union. Back learnt his trade at junior clubs in Coventry, Earlsdon RFC and Barker's Butts RFC and went on to represent England at Schools, Colts, U21 and Saxons levels before making his full England debut against Scotland in 1994. He began his senior playing career in 1988 for Nottingham.

In 1990 he joined Leicester Tigers and remained there for the next 18 years as a player & coach gaining 339 caps and scoring a club record (for a forward) 125 tries.