Graham George Willars known as Graham Willars (20 November 1939 - 20 September 1997) was an English

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

flanker who played a 338 games for

Leicester Tigers Leicester Tigers (officially Leicester Football Club) are a professional rugby union club based in Leicester, England. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby. The club was founded in 1880 and since 1892 plays its hom ...

from 1959 to 1987, he also coached the side from 1982–87 and was club president from 1991–93.

Playing career

Willars made his

Leicester Leicester ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city, Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest settlement in the East Midlands. The city l ...

debut as a 19 year old on 17 October 1959 against Cheltenham at Welford Road and played 21 times in his first season. However competition for places was fierce and in 1960/61 he played only 5 times and did not feature at all in either 1961/62 or 1962/63. Willars reappeared in the first team against Waterloo in December 1962 and was then a feature in the team for many years. Willars was club captain in 1968/69 and then again in 1972/73. Willars' career lasted 27 years and 169 days, spanning 1,154 Tigers games, the longest by both measures of any player for

. He featured as a player in a record 20 different seasons. At 47 years and 135 days he is also the oldest player to play for the club.

Coaching and administration career

Willars succeeded Chalkie White as

Tigers The tiger (''Panthera tigris'') is the largest living cat species and a member of the genus ''Panthera''. It is most recognisable for its dark vertical stripes on orange fur with a white underside. An apex predator, it primarily preys on un ...

' first team coach and lead the side from 1982–87 leading the side to the final of the 1982-83 John Player Cup, where the side lost to

Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...

Sources

Farmer,Stuart & Hands, David ''Tigers-Official History of Leicester Football Club'' (The Rugby DevelopmentFoundation )
W is for Graham Willars

References

1939 births 1997 deaths English rugby union players Rugby union flankers Rugby union players from Leicester Leicester Tigers players Leicester Tigers coaches {{England-rugbyunion-bio-stub