Leon Lloyd

Background

Leon Lloyd was born in Coventry in the Midlands where he grew up and attended Coundon Court School. He played for England Schools, England Colts, England U21's, Eng 7's and the Barbarians and was a successful try scorer for the Tigers Youth XV and Development XV. Lloyd made his debut at Leicester Tigers in 1996 at the age of 17 and soon after played for England U21 before going on to gain his first two caps for England in 2000 against South Africa.

Rugby career

Lloyd made his debut at Leicester Tigers in 1996, displaced ageing England international Rory Underwood from the side. That same year Lloyd was part of the squad that won the Madrid Sevens and in the following year was a substitute in the 1997 Heineken Cup Final, which Tigers lost 28–9 to Brive.

Under backs coach Joel Stransky, Lloyd was shifted inside from the wing to outside centre.

Lloyd played for England U21, England 7s, the Barbarians England Colts and England Schools and prior to making his début for the Tigers first team, was a successful try scorer for the Tigers Youth XV and Development XV before a serious car accident sidelined him for six months.

Lloyd was included in England's 1999 World Cup squad but didn't feature in any matches. He went on to gain his first two caps the following season as a replacement against South Africa in 2000, but concern was raised about his discipline as he was seen punching a Springbok player.

He played in the England side during 2001 tour to North America, where he played in three tests and scored two tries. Unfortunately he suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery and kept him out of the Tigers squad for the start of the 2001/02 season and ultimately cost him his place in the England team.

However, he recovered well and scored two tries, including the match-winner in Tigers' 2001 Heineken Cup Final, only to be injured again when Leicester retained the trophy in May 2002. That injury also ruled him out of the England Sevens squad for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Lloyd agreed a deal to leave Leicester Tigers for Guinness Premiership team Gloucester Rugby. in 2007 where he scored five tries in just six games. However, his playing career was cut short in 2008 after he suffered a career-ending knee injury during a game against the Ospreys.

Business career

In 2009 Lloyd was appointed foundation director for Oakham School, a leading independent school in the Midlands, where he used his excellent contacts and networking skills to help raise funds for the school, ensuring its continued success and financial security.

He is an active ambassador for The Prince's Trust, helping change the lives of disadvantaged young people and as an ambassador for the Christina Noble Children's Foundation, he also helps raise funds through rugby and rugby contacts for underprivileged children in Vietnam and Mongolia.

In 2012 Leon's experience as a professional rugby player coupled with his burgeoning career in business, led to his appointment as chief executive of Legion Worldwide, a provider of global business solutions.

Leon is a Director of social enterprise Switch the Play, an organisation that supports athlete transition through and beyond sport.

Leon Lloyd is a founder and director of Legends Rugby, a sports & events brand that brings together former professional rugby players and rugby fans at a large-scale rugby festival and through a series of business networking opportunities, including its City Lunch events.

In addition, Lloyd is a director of Key Sports Management, one of the UK's leading football management companies and also a director of Legion Sports Management, which specialises in the representation of top flight professional sportsmen and women across the globe.

His first book, Life After Sport 'From Boot Room to Board Room' talks about the rigors of post sport life and Lloyd's own transition from rugby to business.

FC Grenoble threatened to sue Legion Sports International, a separate company of which Leon has never been a director, for the non-payment of tournament fees Grenoble threatens Legion Sports for fraud (in French), but no legal action was filed.