WELCOME FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Peter Tom CBE CHAIRMAN

Welcome to matchday - our second home game in succession at Mattioli Woods Welford Road and our first in this season’s European Challenge Cup.

Today we welcome the officials and players of our visitors from Brive to Leicester.

This is the first time the two teams have met since the European Cup Final back in 1997, when Brive lifted the trophy in only the second year of the tournament’s history.

It was also the first year that English clubs had taken part and it was an exciting journey into the unknown for the players and the staff in those early days of the professional game.

Although on that occasion we were unable to take the last step to win the cup that season, the players involved often point to it as an essential part of the experience which eventually led to Tigers becoming back-toback European champions just a few years later.

Next week we face more French opposition as the team travel to Bayonne for the first-ever meeting of the clubs in a competitive fixture, before returning to Gallagher Premiership duties during the Christmas and New Year period.

On behalf of everyone at the club, I pass on congratulations to our England players Ellis, George and Ben on their unbeaten run in the Autumn Nations Cup and the final victory after extra-time last Sunday.

We welcomed them back to Oval Park this week, together with Nemani, Kini and Shalva who also played in the tournament, and look forward to seeing them all back in Tigers colours.

A challenging year all round

I would also like to welcome Matias Moroni and Luan de Bruin to Leicester Tigers after their arrival recently.

The team showed great determination in the game against Exeter Chiefs last week but, as Steve said immediately afterwards, they kept us under pressure for long spells and in the end they managed to pull away by making the most of their opportunities.

As this is our last home game until January, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas from the Leicester Tigers.

It has been a challenging year for everyone, with families, friends and livelihoods hugely affected by a pandemic which is still having an impact with

Leicester and Leicestershire currently in Tier 3 and supporters unable to join us on matchday.

We hope to see some light at the end of the tunnel shortly and bring as many of you as possible back to the stadium to get behind Steve and the players on their journey back to where we want to be.

Thank you, as always, for your support. All the very best for Christmas and to a Happy and Healthy New Year.