Dan Cole exclusive: Leicester Tigers prop hasn’t given up on England recall but focus is on Premiership title defence

Leicester Tigers prop Dan Cole insists that he hasn’t given up on featuring for England at the World Cup as the Premiership season nears its kick off.

Cole, 35, was speaking exclusively to Planet Rugby ahead of the 2022/23 campaign as the Tigers look to follow up last season’s title win in strong style.

A run of solid showings for Leicester would do his chances of an England recall the power of good as Test rugby is still something Cole has ambitions of.

Hasn’t given up on England

“I am still playing so I’ve not given up, no,” he told James While, who asked the question whether he would like to go to the Rugby World Cup next year.

“All I am focused on is playing. I’m enjoying rugby, enjoying playing for Leicester, enjoying being pushed hard by Steve (Borthwick) and being part of a successful team. That’s what I’ve enjoyed doing. International rugby is a great honour and a privilege to play. Of course, everybody wants to play more.

“Once you played it once you want to play more but, yeah, all I can do is work very hard for Leicester. That is my focus,” added the veteran tighthead.

Indeed, the stalwart’s main focus is the Tigers at the moment and with another solid pre-season in the bank, Cole is excited about their title defence.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said as Leicester prepare to face Exeter. “Pre-season was actually quite short this year but you want to play rugby and pre-season obviously preps you for the season the best you can. But there is only so much training you can do. You want to get going so, yeah, excited to play.”

Borthwick has turned the Tigers around since joining the club as they marched to Premiership glory, with Cole full of praise for his coaching style.

“Overall his game-plan and the way you’re supposed to play the game, it suits big forwards down to the ground in regards to having a very good set-piece, defence and being involved in attack and he obviously wants to keep the game going forward,” said the front-row.

“For me it’s enjoyable because my job is to push in scrums and lift in line-outs. So you’re asked to do a few things but really well rather than everything averagely and that’s what I think works in regards to whether it’s myself in the scrum or second-rows and back-rows – like the boys that get over the ball.

“The way he gets the message across, he makes sure everyone’s involved and engaged. The way it’s done and how messages are translated to the team, everything’s got a reason, it’s not just ‘here’s a piece of paper’, it’s the way it’s structured.”

Set to face Ellis Genge

One player who won’t be at Leicester this season though is Ellis Genge, who has moved to Bristol Bears after signing off in perfect style with the title.

Cole admits he won’t get overly involved in any verbals between the pair when they meet in 2022/23, as he feels words come back to haunt players.

“You have a word occasionally at the bottom of a breakdown because you’re catching your breath but it’ll be interesting,” he added.

“I am not one for talking loads anyway because you say something then you get your arse handed to you at the next scrum. It will be weird, it will be different, but you play against great players and you play with people at clubs and internationally, so you kind of know people and you get used to playing against people that have either been at the club or international wise.”

Click Here: leinster rugby shirts