A giant of a man, on and off the pitch

ENGLAND WORLD CUP WINNER DALLAGLIO TO RECEIVE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

HE won the Premiership five times, was a European champion twice, a Six Nations winner on four occasions and a three-time British and Irish Lion.

Oh, and let’s not forget the crowning glory – a World champion with England in 2003. Lawrence Dallaglio’s rugby union CV shows just why he will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at this week’s Pride of Sport.

But the former skipper will be recognised not only for the heroics with England and Wasps, but also for his charity work following his retirement in 2008.

The Mirror’s Pride of Sport Awards, in partnership with TSB, celebrate the unsung heroes of grassroots sport alongside elite competitors who inspire them.

Hosted by TV presenter Ben Shephard, the awards dinner takes place at London’s Grosvenor House on Thursday.

Dallaglio will be joined by some of the biggest names in sport, including Olympic and Paralympic champions, world record-breakers, Premier League heroes and more.

Tributes from other sporting legends are no more than Dallaglio (right) deserves.

“He has to go down as one of the greatest captains in the history of rugby,” said his former Wasps coach Shaun Edwards.

“He’s an example to any person, whether they are in rugby, or a secretary or a bin man.”

Dallaglio has raised millions for cancer research after the death of his mother from the disease in 2008.

And he now has his own charity – Dallaglio RugbyWorks. Using the sport to reach kids excluded from mainstream education, he said: “Our results are significant. A person on our programme is twice as likely to be in education, employment or training 12 months after leaving school.”