Dream Team with Dan Hipkiss

Dan Hipkiss, the former England, Leicester and Bath centre chooses the best XV he has played with or against

1. Andrew Sheridan – A great athlete/weightlifter and ball carrier. But, more impressively, a singer-songwriter and guitarist.

2. Tom Youngs – Someone you would trust with your life. I played with him at Leicester when he was an inside centre before he made the move to hooker. I remember a drunken arm wrestling competition with myself and Tom's dad Nick, the Youngs' farmer strength prevailed.

3. Matt Hampson – I work with Matt at his Foundation to fulfil his vision to inspire and support young people seriously injured through sport. I played with Matt before his injury in 2005, he's great company and selfless in so many ways.

4. Martin Johnson – I was in awe of him when I joined Leicester in the late 90s. The sort of player that made you feel anything was achievable with him in the side.

5. Louis Deacon – He takes some stick for not being the most smiley person, but I really enjoy his company. He was a grafter and hard as nails.

6. Lewis Moody – My overriding memory is having to protect my genitalia in his company. Nothing gave him greater pleasure than an old fashioned nut shot; his best effort was flicking his flip flop into my crotch from a couple of metres. Never gave up on the pitch and taught me a lot.

7. Shane Jennings – A great indoor cricketer firstly, we spent many hours playing in his flat in Leicester with Leo Cullen. He was the best over the ball, had a great engine and could chip and chase, too.

8. Ben Pienaar – Didn't get to play enough for Leicester, but he was a great team-mate and always made it hard in training. Ultimate team man who got the nickname of The Cannonball as he often wore a dodgy headguard. He's a school teacher now – think Ted Lasso teaching rugby.

9. Harry Ellis – Quick, brave and committed. Hazza could conjure something from nothing. We played together for the first time at 16years old vs Swansea on a cold and wet day, I remember sharing a normal-sized bath with him after the game – he said he needed a wee but it was too cold to get out and ‘would I mind if…'. I did mind, but he did it anyway!

10. Sam Vesty – Possibly the best cricketer to play rugby for England. A great rugby brain with perfect tackle technique and rhythm guitarist for our Tigers band Slo Progress.

11. Lote Tuqiri – I was a big fan of Aussie Rugby League when Lote was playing for the Brisbane Broncos. He was a great guy and I was impressed with how committed he was during his brief spell with Leicester.

12. Paddy Howard – My favourite coach and I got to play one game with him when he turned out for the 2nd team match while he was in charge of Tigers. He had the footwork, passing and kicking game and I owe much of my success to his help and support.

13.Daryl Gibson – Gibbo told me an unrepeatable Tuqiri story about the young bull and the old bull which shaped a lot of my thinking as a professional. He had a great attitude to training and was very humble too, so much so that when he came to Leicester he bought a green Ford Fiesta for £250 to quell some of the rumours he was our highest-paid player.

14. Geordie Murphy – Most people see the skills that made him a genius on a rugby pitch, but for those that know him, they will tell you that being in his company makes you a better person. He has great integrity and generosity and is a fantastic leader.

15. Tim Taylor – I was Timmy's best man and he's now a fantastic coach at Gloucester. I loved our time playing for England U21s and training together in the off-season. He's in great shape now, even at 40.