Key Facts
| Squad | Leicester Tigers |
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| Position | Centre |
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| Age | 26 |
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| Height | 1.8m (5'11") |
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| Weight | 91kg (14st 4lb) |
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| Caps | 2 |
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Switching from Gloucester to Leicester Tigers in the summer of 2009 has revitalised the career of Anthony Allen, who won two Test caps at the age of 20. Almost six years on, he is enjoying life in the Tigers'; lair, having started the Premiership finals of 2010, when his side triumphed, and 2011 supplemented with England Saxons'; appearances including three in the 2010 Churchill Cup. He went on to score a try for the England XV that beat the South African Barbarians North 57-31 at Potchefstroom in June this year.
Educated at Boundary Oak Prep School, he moved to Clayesmore in Dorset before winning a scholarship to Millfield. He was on the books of Harlequins as a junior before signing for Gloucester when leaving senior school. In four years at Kingsholm, he played almost a century of games, including three finals but won only one in 2006 in what is now the Amlin Challenge Cup.
Two other top level Twickenham appearances brought defeats by Leicester in the 2007 Guinness Premiership final and Cardiff in the EDF Energy Cup final two years later. A former member of England's Senior National Academy, he represented the national U18 and U19 and was the only player to be on the field throughout every match when England U21 achieved a Grand Slam in 2006.
His early mentors at Harlequins were Tony Russ and Colin Osborne and a memento from the man he played opposite on his Test debut against New Zealand illustrates his admiration for Aaron Mauger, the All Black and Leicester teammate in 2009-2010. It is Aaron's signed New Zealand shirt, framed by Anthony's grandmother for his 21st birthday.
That was a far cry from his formative years when he spent Sundays with his brother and father at Fareham Trojans, his local rugby club in Eastleigh. Anthony’s career has moved on apace with 28 appearances for the Tigers in his debut season, a total that expanded to 84, with 13 tries, by mid November this year.
Overall, at that time he has played in 126 Premiership matches for his two clubs and made 23 touchdowns. It has rewarded his development as an inside centre, his ability to cross the gain line and put in vigorous tackles. He captained the Tigers for the first time against Bath in the LV=Cup match at Welford Road on February 4, 2011.
International Record
2006 NZ, Arg
Last updated: November 12, 2012.
