Neil Back

Neil Back
MBE
Back celebrating the English 2003 World Cup victory.
BornNeil Antony Back MBE
(1969-01-16) 16 January 1969
Coventry, England
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight93 kg (205 lb; 14 st 9 lb)
SchoolWoodlands School, Coventry
Rugby union career
Position Openside flanker
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Barker's Butts
Earlsdon
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1988–1990 Nottingham 38 (40)
1990–2005 Leicester Tigers 339 (615)
1988–2005 Total 377 (655)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1994–2003 England 66 (83)
1997, 2001, 2005 British & Irish Lions 5 (5)
Coaching career
Years Team
2003–2008 Leicester Tigers
2008–2011 Leeds Carnegie
2011–2012 Rugby Lions
2012–2013 Edinburgh Rugby

Neil Antony Back MBE (born 16 January 1969) is an English former rugby union player and coach. He played as an open-side flanker for Nottingham and Leicester Tigers, and won 66 international caps for England and 5 for the British & Irish Lions.

In his international career he played in three World Cups, 1995, 1999, and 2003, when he was an integral part of the 2003 World Cup winning side. He also played on three Lions tours: the victorious tour to South Africa in 1997, and to Australia in 2001 and New Zealand in 2005. Following World Cup victory with England in 2003, he combined the roles of player and defensive coach for Leicester Tigers until he retired, following a 17-year playing career. One of his final games saw him become the oldest test British Lion in history, in the first test match against New Zealand in 2005.

As a coach, he worked for Leicester, Leeds Carnegie and Edinburgh.