Leicester Tigers
Club Details
Welford Road
Leicester
LE2 7TR
Stadium Capacity: 17498
Website: www.leicestertigers.com
Founded: 1880
- 2009/10 Season Preview -
Last year: Lifting the Guinness Premiership alongside a Heineken Cup Final appearance would be viewed as quite an year by many neutral onlookers. But this is Leicester we're talking about so one senses that negative result to Michael Cheika's province slightly soured their domestic achievement. But although they ultimately missed out on the dream double, the Tigers' form towards the latter stages was highly impressive as Tom Croft, Jordan Crane and Sam Vesty came to the fore. All in all a great season despite possible off-field disruption when Richard Cockerill stepped in due to coach following Heyneke Meyer's family-related departure.
This year: Studying Leicester's ins and outs does not make for pretty reading in what looks like something of a mini spring clean at a redeveloped Welford Road. But you cannot write off the Tigers as Cockerill's charges enter the Guinness Premiership term as favourites whilst being drawn against the Ospreys and Clermont in their Heineken Cup Pool. Pre-season injuries to both their fly-half options could, however, hamper their early form but we expect Julien Dupuy's exit to hurt them most as the Frenchman's goal-kicking and creative play was a major 2008/09 catalyst.
Coach: Whisper it quietly but the high turnover of coaches at Welford Road seems to be slowing in pace as Richard Cockerill continues to coax the Tigers back to their glory days. The former England hooker and Leicester stalwart, who took full charge of the side from Heyneke Meyer last year, could not be faulted for his man-management but there is no doubt he will still be smarting from losing out at Murrayfield.
Captain: Ireland's mercurial Geordan Murphy has been arguably the most consistent Premiership performer of the last five years. A rock under the high ball, an excellent kicker from hand and with an unrivalled knowledge of what makes a great full-back, it is just a personal shame that regular international starts have not materialised.
One to watch: On the back of another strong term from the Leicester base, number eight Jordan Crane will surely be in the England reckoning for Six Nations 2010. The youngster hailing from Colston's Collegiate still has massive potential which makes us believe this will be his best campaign to date.
In: Joe Duffey (Nottingham), Geoff Parling (Newcastle), Billy Twelvetrees (Bedford), James Grindal (Newcastle), Jeremy Staunton (Wasps), Anthony Allen (Gloucester)
Out: Martin Corry (Retired), Ayoola Erinle (Biarritz), Marco Wentzel (Leeds Carnegie), Tom Varndell (Wasps), Seru Rabeni (Gloucester), Santiago Bonorino (Northampton), Benjamin Kayser (Stade Francais), Ben Herring (Retired), Julien Dupuy (Stade Francais), Derick Hougaard (Saracens).
Squad: Anthony Allen, Marcos Ayerza, Richard Blaze, Martin Castrogiovanni, George Chuter, Dan Cole, Jordan Crane, Tom Croft, Mefin Davies, Brett Deacon, Louis Deacon, Joe Duffey, Harry Ellis, Toby Flood, James Grindal, Scott Hamilton, Robbie Harris, Dan Hemingway, Dan Hipkiss, Ben Kay, Aaron Mauger, Lewis Moody, Geordan Murphy, Johne Murphy, Craig Newby, Geoff Parling, Matt Smith, Boris Stankovich, Jeremy Staunton, Alesana Tuilagi, Billy Twelvetrees, Sam Vesty, Julian White, Ben Woods, Ben Youngs.