Leicester Tigers v Castres Olympique Digital Matchday Programme (20-09-2020) by Leicester Tigers

European Challenge Cup Quarter-Final Sunday September 20 2020 | KO: 3.00pm

v CA S T R E S O LY M P I Q U E

TIGERS

DIGITAL EDITION

The Official Matchday Magazine of Leicester Tigers

ISSUE

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THE TEAMS

LEICESTER TIGERS

THE NEWS

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 CLIC FOR A K HERE CHANNY LATE G THE TEES TO AMS

C A S T R E S O LY M P I Q U E

S TA R T I N G X V FREDDIE STEWARD

T P C D

JULIEN DUMORA

FIJI

KINI MURIMURIVALU

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FILIPO NAKOSI

FIJI

SAF

JACO TAUTE

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THOMAS COMBEZOU

SCO

MATT SCOTT

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YANN DAVID

FIJI

NEMANI NADOLO

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GEOFFREY PALIS

ENG

GEORGE FORD

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BENJAMIN URDAPILLETA

ARG

ENG / LIONS

BEN YOUNGS

T P C D

RORY KOCKOTT

FRA

ENG

ELLIS GENGE

T P C D

ANTOINE TICHIT

TOM YOUNGS (C)

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MARC-ANTOINE RALLIER

ENG / LIONS ENG / LIONS ARG -

FRA -

DAN COLE

T P C D

DANIEL KOTZE

FRA

TOMÁS LAVANINI

T P C D

TYLER ARDRON

CAN

CALUM GREEN

T P C D

FLORENT VANVERBERGHE

HARRY WELLS

T P C D

MATHIEU BABILLOT (C)

TOMMY REFFELL

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KEVIN KORNATH

HANRO LIEBENBERG

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MAAMA VAIPULU

TON

CHARLIE CLARE

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GAETAN BARLOT

ARG

FACUNDO GIGENA

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WAYAN DE BENEDITTIS

SAM

NEPHI LEATIGAGA

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LOÏC JACQUET

JORDAN TAUFUA

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BAPTISTE DELAPORTE

LUKE WALLACE

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JÉRÉMY FERNANDEZ

BEN WHITE

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FLORIAN VIALELLE

ZACK HENRY

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BASTIEN GUILLEMIN

HARRY POTTER

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WILFRID HOUNKPATIN

FRA

R E P L AC E M E N T S

M ATC H O F F I C I A L S Referee: Mr Mike Adamson (SCO) Assistants: Mr Craig Maxwell-Keys & Mr Adam Leal TMO: Mr David Grashoff Citing Officer: Mr Francesco Grillo

FRA

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TOURNAMENT WELCOME

THE NEWS

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From EPCR chairman Simon Halliday It is a long time since the conclusion of the pool stage and it is with relief and thanks for the hard work of a lot of people that we welcome the players back to the field in European club rugby tournaments this weekend. When Leicester Tigers and Castres Olympique qualified for the European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-finals back in January, the world was a very different place. The social and economic pressures on rugby have since been extenuated by the Covid-19 pandemic but can bring opportunities for the sport. In the immediate term, our priority lies in playing the season out to a safe conclusion for all involved. We cannot wait to welcome more fans back into rugby stadia, and will do whatever we can to speed up that process safely. Proportionate risk I think is the key phrase and we have to keep asking the question. Crowds are slowly returning but the game cannot survive without them. With the pandemic curtailing the Top 14 season, the Guinness PRO14 classifications made on the basis of the first 13 rounds of the regular season, and the Gallagher Premiership only resuming after a five-month hiatus in August, it was considered unfair to only qualify six clubs for the 2020/21 Heineken Champions Cup and, therefore, next season will include 24 clubs on an exceptional basis. Two pools of 12 clubs will be drawn at the end of October, leaving each competing club with two home matches and two away matches in an intense pool stage that will be played in December and January. There will be no repeat of domestic matchups during that pool stage, from which, the top four clubs in each pool will make the quarterfinals and the clubs ranked between fifth and eight in each section will transfer to an expanded knockout stage in the Challenge Cup.

As well as reacting to the ever-evolving health crisis, this exciting format with a unique quarter-final round played on a home-and-away basis over consecutive weekends presents great competitive opportunities for clubs and their fans, as 24 clubs will set out on the 'Road to Marseille' next season after this season’s Finals Weekend in the South of France was understandably deferred to next year. With the Challenge Cup winners pipping the eighth-best team in their league to a place in next season’s Heineken Champions Cup if they are not already qualified through their domestic championship, there is added importance on today’s fixture. The absence of bumper crowds this weekend gives us a greater appreciation of both the quality and support of our broadcasters in taking European club rugby to homes across the world. We thank BT Sport for their comprehensive coverage of the tournaments across the United Kingdom and Ireland and we also appreciate Channel 4 and Virgin Media for their work in taking one match per round to free-toair audiences in the Heineken Champions Cup. Furthermore, we are delighted to share the journey with Official Partner Tissot and Official Supporters Financial Times, Gilbert and Kappa. I reiterate that I want to thank everyone involved with getting us to this point in bringing rugby back to our fields and screens, while recognising the extent of the impact caused by Covid-19 and the ongoing suffering of many people. They are in our thoughts. May you all enjoy a wonderful weekend of European Rugby Challenge Cup knockout rugby, and let us keep building our recovery together. Yours in rugby, Simon Halliday, EPCR Chairman

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CONTENTS... 12

LEICESTER FOOTBALL CLUB PLC Telephone 0116 319 8888 www.leicestertigers.com Facebook.com/LeicesterTigers Twitter @LeicesterTigers instagram.com/leicestertigers

03 Teams

42 Tigers Playing Squad

08 Welcome from the Chairman

50 The Fixture List

10 Welford Road News

52 Tigers Matchfiles

12 250 Not Out For Ben

54 Player Stats

21 Geordan Murphy’s Notes

57 The Ultimate Big Boot

26 European Challenge Cup

59 Junior Tigers Club

28 Match Preview

60 In the Community

33 Today’s Opposition

68 On This Day

38 From the Boardroom

74 Tigers Fanzone

Executive Chairman: Peter Tom CBE Chief Executive: Andrea Pinchen Director of Rugby: Geordan Murphy Head Coach: Steve Borthwick Directors: Petar Cvetkovic, Duncan Green, Ben Kay MBE, Fintan Kennedy, Tom Scott, Rory Underwood MBE DL Company Secretary: Mary Ford Life Members: Garry Adey, John Allen, Bob Beason, Paul Dodge, Matt Hampson, Dusty Hare MBE, Roy Jackson, Martin Johnson CBE, Ian Smith, Peter Wheeler Club Statistician/ Historian: Stuart Farmer Child Protection Officer: Matt Johnson

ROLL OF HONOUR European Champions: 2000/01, 2001/02 English Champions: 1987/88, 1994/95, 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2006/07, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2012/13 Zurich Championship Winners: 2000/01 Cup Winners: 1978/79, 1979/80, 1980/81, 1992/93, 1996/97 Anglo-Welsh Cup Winners: 2006/07, 2011/12, 2016/17 Premiership ‘A’ League Winners: 2004/05, 2005/06, 2009/10, 2010/11 Premiership U21 League Winners: 2002/03 Premiership Academy U18 League Winners: 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20 (joint)

THE NEWS

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FROM THE CHAIRMAN Opening words from the chairman of Leicester Tigers…

defeats. It was also hugely appropriate that the players produced a good performance and the right result on the day that Ben Youngs reached 250 first-team appearances for the Tigers - and that he should score the first try so soon after leading the team out. Ben, Tom, Nick who made a presentation in the dressing room afterwards, and their whole family can feel hugely proud of his achievements here and I’m sure there’s a lot more to come from him yet. I would also like to welcome Kini Murimurivalu to the club. There’s no better way to start than with a derby-day win, though I’m sure he’s looking forward to doing it again when the supporters return to the stadium.

As well as the try and the goal-kicking of Zack Henry and Freddie Steward, a key part of the game was the management of that period when we found ourselves down to 13 men against a team who like to throw the ball around. The determination in that period, plus Aled’s conditioning with the team and the defensive work led by Mike Ford, got their rewards with the win. Today we welcome a Castres Olympique team who have been here just once before and who have already started a new season in France, which just shows the unique circumstances we are all dealing with in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. The prize for the winners is a semi-final next weekend, and Steve and the rest of the staff will have made sure the whole squad is thoroughly prepared for another big game. As always, thank you for your continued support - let’s hope we can share more of these occasions together at Welford Road again in the nottoo-distant future.

Peter Tom CBE

Welcome to the quarter-final of the European Challenge Cup and especially to our visitors from Castres Olympique. It continues to be an unusual experience to have to play without our supporters inside the stadium on an afternoon we have been looking forward to since the end of the pool stages back in January. But that is the world we are all coming to terms with at the moment and, like last week’s derby, there will still be the intensity of a big fixture for the players. We all enjoyed a hardearned win over Saints last week, which was especially important after the disappointment of successive

A well-earned derby win

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THE NEWS

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CLUB NEWS

SPECIAL INVITATION 10

Supporters may not be able to join us for matchdays at this stage, but you are invited to come to watch the team’s final preparations with an exclusive Captain’s Run Brunch. This package for groups of 4-6 people within their own social bubble includes a breakfast brunch while enjoying direct views of the pitch from an executive box as the players train on the day before a home game. Fewer than 100 places are available, with places

priced at £45 per person. Doors open from 10.00am, with training at 11.00am. Brunch includes breakfast baps, mixed berry compote, vanilla yoghurt, granola, fruit salad, juices, Fairtrade Tea or Rainforest Alliance Coffee. Social distancing restrictions are in place, alongside temperature checks on arrival and track and trace registration. See the club website for more details and booking advice. We look forward to seeing you.

DELIVERED TO YOU The digital match programme is emailed to season ticket holders and loaded on to the club website so you won’t have to miss any of the usual features while games are played behind closed doors. If you have any feedback, you can send your comments to tigers@tigers.co.uk

FIXTURE UPDATE Kick-off dates and times in Round 21 of the Gallagher Premiership season, when Tigers are due to travel to Bristol Bears, have now been confirmed. Tigers go to Ashton Gate for a 5.30pm kick-off next Wednesday (September 30) in a game which has now been chosen as part of the pilot scheme to get restricted crowds back into matches. A maximum figure of 1,000 has been set. Details of Round 21 were delayed due to Premiership involvement in Europe, including Tigers and Bears who are both in the last eight of the Challenge Cup this weekend. The final round of league fixtures is on Sunday, October 4 when Tigers host Harlequins, with all games kicking off at 3.00pm on that day.

TIGERS LOTTO WINNERS Tigers Lotto is still rewarding a season ticket holder with a special draw for every home game despite not being allowed into the stadium. Look out on the club’s social media pages for the name of today’s season ticket holder who wins a signed Tigers shirt. There are more than 270 chances a year to win with TigersLotto, including the £100 weekday draw, eight monthly £500 draws and four Mega Draws. And by taking part you are also helping the work of the Tigers Academy in identifying and nurturing talent for a new generation. Membership is £52 a year and you can join online or phone the ticket office.

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T H E F E AT U R E 12

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TIGERStalk...

250 NOT OUT

T H E F E AT U R E

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Marking his 250th first-team appearance was an occasion to celebrate for Ben Youngs, especially on the winning side in a local derby. It was also another landmark in his club career which began as a teenager keen to follow in the footsteps of his dad Nick and older brother Tom as a Tigers player. 17 Still seven months short of his 18th birthday, Ben made his senior debut for Tigers in a game against Argentina at Welford Road. 2007 Graduating from the club’s academy, Ben became the club’s youngest-ever Premiership player as he made his entry in the closing seconds of the match at Bristol in April 2007. He also got off the bench in Premiership Final win over Gloucester before his 18th birthday. 2008 Started alongside older brother Tom for the first time in a cup win at Bath.

Ben at just 17 years of age

1 He scored his first senior try in a cup win at Bath in October 2008 and added a first Premiership score in a home win over Worcester Warriors. 2009 Shortlisted for Premiership Young Player of the Year. 17 On a famous night at Welford Road, Ben kicked 17 points in the historic win over South Africa in October 2009. 2010 Named Players’ Player of the Year, Supporters’ Young Player of the Year and Rugby Players Association Young Player before scoring a try in the Premiership Final win over Saracens.

Ben celebrates victory against South Africa

Ben kicks against Wasps in 2008

T H E F E AT U R E

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100 Marked his 100th appearance for Tigers with a try in the win at Sale Sharks in October 2012 in his first appearance of the season, after recovering from a shoulder injury picked up during England’s summer tour. 80 Ben’s solo 80-metre try at Bath was voted Try of the Year at the RPA Awards. 5 Played in his fifth Premiership Final in May 2013 and collected his fourth league title at the age of just 23.

Ben and brother Tom celebrate a Premiership title Ben scores in the 2010 Premiership Final

2014 Made his 100th starting appearance for Tigers against Exeter in March 2014, joining dad Nick as the second fatherand-son combination (after Ian and Matt Smith) in the club’s history to reach that mark. He also captained Tigers throughout 2014/15 after injury ruled out Ed Slater until the last three weeks of the season. 200 Completed a second century of Tigers appearances in the Premiership fixture against Bath in April 2017. 85 Ben and team-mate Dan Cole joined Rory Underwood as Tigers’ most-capped England player as they earned an 85th Test appearance in the game against Scotland at the end of the 2019 Six Nations. He has since moved on to 99 caps. 250 Marked his 250th first-team appearance - and 200th start - in a derby win over Northampton Saints at Welford Road in September 2020 - and scored the opening try after just six minutes to set Tigers on the way to their 28-24 triumph.

Ben during the 2011 Premiership Final

Ben celebrates 100 appearances for the Tigers

Ben during the 2013 Premiership semi-final against Quins

Ben overlooks a scrum in 2015

T H E F E AT U R E

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Ben playing against Bristol Bears in 2020

Fired up during a Premiership match against Newcastle Falcons

Ben leads an attack against Calvisano in 2019

T H E F E AT U R E 16

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LTTV SPECIAL

Did you see the emotional moments behind the scenes after the game when Ben shared the occasion with family and team-mates?

T H E F E AT U R E

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THE GAME

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FROM THE TOUCHLINE Director of rugby Geordan Murphy gives his view from inside the camp ahead of Tigers' European quarter-final clash with Castres Olympique…

Five weeks and seven games into the restarted season, here we are with a European Challenge Cup quarter-final against our visitors from Castres Olympique. It’s great to be back at Welford Road after a decent win here over Northampton Saints last Sunday and I thought we totally deserved it. It was obviously nice to get the win and all of the players,

staff and supporters will have enjoyed it, though we felt there were areas where we could still improve. Looking back, we were 16-3 up and felt in control of the game but we gave them some opportunities to get into our half of the pitch and two minutes laster we’re down to 13 men and have conceded a penalty try. That kind of situation can challenge

anyone. But the team showed some steel in defence and we put Saints under pressure in tough circumstances and did well to stick to our game. I was disappointed that they got that late try after we’d defended pretty well, but it’s a win on the board, we’ve reviewed it and we move on. We knew when we got back on the pitch a few weeks ago that games were coming thick and fast, and we’ve had to rotate the squad, but we wanted to finish the season well and keep learning and developing our game as individuals and as a collective. At the start of the season we set our sights on getting into the knockout stages in Europe and there have been some positive performances on the way with some hard-earned points in games against Cardiff Blues, Pau and Calvisano in the group stages, while also giving players their opportunities in a new environment. Castres won at Worcester to get into position to come here today so they know how to come to England and play cup rugby. They have a good squad, they will want to show what they can do and we know we have to show more improvement in our game and maintain a focus on what we can do well.

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THE GAME

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HOW IT WORKS…

Pool winners guaranteed their place in the quarter-finals and are joined by the three runners-up with the highest total of points across the pools.

The pool winners are ranked 1-5 and the best runners-up 6-8 by reference to the number of match points earned. KNOCKOUT STAGES

The draw for the knockout stages included details for quarterfinals and semi-finals as they are to be played just a week apart.

Due to the many uncertainties created by the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been decided that the 2020 Heineken

Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals will not now be held in Marseille and new venues will be announced.

Marseille will host Finals weekend in 2021, while London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been chosen for 2022.

LAST EIGHT

There will be new Challenge Cup winners this season with

none of the clubs in the last eight lifting the trophy previously. Castres Olympique, Edinburgh and Toulon have all been

beaten finalists in the tournament while Toulon and, of course, Leicester Tigers are previous Champions Cup winners.

Toulon are the top seeds in the quarter-final draw and the only club to have won all six pool matches.

REMAINING FIXTURES:

QUARTER-FINAL 1: RC Toulon v Scarlets

QUARTER-FINAL 2: Leicester Tigers v Castres Olympique QUARTER-FINAL 3: Bordeaux-Bègles v Edinburgh Rugby QUARTER-FINAL 4: Bristol Bears v Dragons

SEMI-FINAL 1: RC Toulon or Scarlets will play Leicester Tigers or Castres Olympique

If RC Toulon (ranked 1) and Leicester (ranked 4) win quarter-finals, Toulon will have home advantage. If Toulon and Castres (ranked 5) qualify, Toulon will have home advantage. If Leicester and Scarlets (ranked 8) qualify, Leicester will have home advantage. If Castres and Scarlets qualify, Castres will have home advantage.

SEMI-FINAL 2: Bordeaux-Bègles or Edinburgh Rugby will play Bristol Bears or Dragons If Bristol Bears (ranked 2) and Bordeaux (ranked 3) win quarter-finals, Bristol will have home advantage. If Bristol and Edinburgh (ranked 6) qualify, Bristol will have home advantage. If Bordeaux and Dragons (ranked 7) qualify, Bordeaux will have home advantage. If Edinburgh and Dragons qualify, Edinburgh will have home advantage.

E UR A EUR LP A U AN C E EN E OEPN E N G E E P L G A U E C U L A E P P P R L L C C P H O U U U L A G E E C O E R C AEN G EU C H A R N G U P E C N E H E N LOEPNEGA ALLEN HA P C GPEEC AU PLEL CCUHPALLE ECA UN L R N H A O P E E EAN C R G E N R C U H G O G L N E A U C L N ER H NE ALELU N E P N P P EU A AE REO P PEA U OA L E N C U L P A P C C H U U P GE CU NGE CC EN NE U G ENUC O E H R R O A N G P E R U L LE CH PAEL EOCPUEPA GUEPCEU LLEENNGE A LLPE L RO U H A C C N A EAN E EENCNCCHHAAL NPCEH G L AENLLPEENUGR A G L N E E N P A O E E A O CEHC AU NACLH L OPPEEAN RPOEPUR EUERCOUPPEGCEUP GN N CH AH EUURRO PEECUU CLUEPNG LELN N G OP E E C L N P E EECNUG NH A E L CHCAHLA PN EA CU A G L OUPRENGGEECCUUPEHN O G C A E N RE NP LN EP E C NA EO ALHA L P U E A G A L L E C LEEN H P R P O E U P OR EPCE N AU N LC PEG C UU A O EPUERU E E L AA A E C N R E G P N N H U G E E N E O O A P C C U R RCOUPP EGCEUC L EEN EA LEP EHUARLL E CUP N L L G A N A U E E C ENEGAN LEN H C P N N ACLHL RN U C N O N NEG LA LEGE E A P HUAPL L E L E L U H A A G O P L E E C A R N H A O P P P E HC UPREOAN EU N E UO A EUEN A CH ECCOEPN LELURA CR N G E P G N A U P E G H O E C RO U OG P PR LLCEU RLL CUP NP AGNE C L P C U U L A E H A R N U PC NEGAEN LE H C E GE RL U LE UN PEEN UHPAELU C N P NA C O L A EH E L E LOEP HU CA ERNO GP HU P A L UA GENCC NO E E R E A H P G C C C P A C E EN UN LOEPNEA LELU NE OEPN LELU A G ER H E P G A N A P U C L A U L P E P R R C L L C H P A E O L PCEHUA ENCU NE U HEU AGNE CCU EN OG EU R A R A N G E H GA L U L E P C E UHPAL CAUN N P C N E L O A E P L E E R OLPEENEH L G P L O CCHUAP UA GENCC NO E E LUERNO CH AR P G C U P E A U E L R N NE O N E E E P PEN LU CH CA LRLOEP A G N P A A N L P U E E A C U L E P R P URAO U EAGNE C UERN U ANE CH LL PCEHUAL ENC G O PHEA H E N U N LOEPNEGA A P C GPEEC NGUA LPE CCUHPAELLE ECA O A N EE U L R RLOLP P L R E N H H A O U P E G E N R C C U C H P G O L N E A U C U E LE A N O ER H P PEN EPNE HAPLELU N A AG P U L EP ECANA O C L U L R R C L L C P E O U U U L A C N HE AGNE C EN OG EU RA UPCEH GAEN RN AGE ELU E H UCPO L P C E E N LOEPNE P C N L PE UA O PA E ECA A N U L E E R U L H G P L L R C C AR UA UNP CEH NEG P LELUERNO PCH EN EN G CCHU U O E A E R N C G L E N P U A A A EN UARLO CURO LRLO CCH APLE NECCH UP OG L EA PE HEA P L P U U L E H A R C A N G N U PC NEGA E OLPEEN P ELU H C E U LE UN C N P CURPLOLPEENAGU A A L E E R U LOEP C H GEPECA ERNO G P L C C R A UA UNP CEHANEG E EH N U C H O A LU N N E A C E L R N E E P C G L E P U A A P U L L C RO U OG EN EHUARL EA P L P OPECPHEA UAPEEAGNECCH ULRONE CCH L A U PC NE ERNUN H C U E N U L E P C E N P L CURLOLPEENAGUA L O P A A EP L E E AR R E CCUH GEPECA NO L G P O L E H A U E O A LUR N N EUEL ANLELU CEH ECAUNP C LOEPNEG CH L R NN E E P E A P U A H C L A U L E P P P R C P UC OA PRE U EAGNE C UERN U NE CCH UP G O H RO UCPHEA R O E N A ELL PAN C CEUU LPE PENG THE GAME

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POOL 1 Castres Olympique Dragons Worcester Warriors Enisei-STM

Pld W 6 5 6 4 6 3 6 0

D 0 0 0 0

L 1 2 3 6

T PF PA 22 159 103 24 194 136 27 209 127 10 73 269

Pts 23 20 16 0

POOL 2 RC Toulon Scarlets Bayonne London Irish

Pld W 6 6 6 4 6 1 6 1

D 0 0 0 0

L 0 2 5 5

T PF PA 25 177 87 17 149 90 12 93 190 16 122 174

Pts 28 19 7 7

POOL 3 Bordeaux-BÃ¨gles Edinburgh Rugby Wasps Agen

Pld W 6 5 6 4 6 2 6 0

D 1 1 0 0

L 0 1 4 6

T PF PA 28 221 72 16 140 85 18 141 145 6 57 257

Pts 26 21 11 0

POOL 4 Bristol Bears Brive Zebre Rugby Stade Francais

Pld W 6 5 6 3 6 2 6 1

D 1 0 1 0

L 0 3 3 5

T PF PA 27 209 58 14 111 165 15 106 151 11 104 156

Pts 26 14 13 8

POOL 5 Leicester Tigers Pau Cardiff Blues Rugby Calvisano

Pld W 6 5 6 4 6 3 6 0

D 0 0 0 0

L 1 2 3 6

T PF PA 23 181 95 29 208 170 30 216 119 7 68 289

Pts 23 19 18 1

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THE BIG MATCH Tigers host Castres Olympique in the last eight of the Challenge Cup

Leicester and Castres meet for only the third time in senior competition this weekend, having first clashed just a couple of years ago. Each team won well at home in those encounters during the pool stages of the European Champions Cup, with Tigers securing a bonus point in the first half of a 54-29 win at Welford Road, before the visitors staged a second-half revival to take a try bonus of their own. Telusa Veainu and David Smith claimed hat-tricks for their respective teams. Then, in the return in Round 5, a Tigers team shorn of its England internationals ahead of the Six Nations Championship were heavily beaten on a first-ever visit to the Stade Pierre Fabre. Tigers have reached the quarter-finals in the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first-ever season in the Challenge Cup but have previously won in seven of their 14 Heineken Cup ties at this stage, including six out of eight at Welford Road. Castres have won their last five games in the tournament, equalling a run set in 2007/08, while the 23 points scored by France international half-back Rory Kockott in the vital Round 6 victory over Worcester Warriors is a record for the club in this tournament.

LAST TWO MEETINGS 2017/18

2017/18

FROM BOTH SIDES One of the great servants and ambassadors of Fijian rugby, Seremaia Bai enjoyed a well-travelled career in seven countries and ended his playing days in Leicester before a return home where he now runs a rugby academy. He spent eight years in France, first with Clermont and then from 2010 with Castres. He was a Top14 winner with the club in 2012/13 when they upset the odds to come all the way through the play-offs and was a finalist again a year later after kicking the winning drop-goal in the semi-final. He joined Tigers in the summer of 2014 and made 27 appearances across two seasons. Benjamin Kayser and Steve Mafi have also represented both clubs.

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THE OTHER QUARTER-FINAL TIES

Toulon and Scarlets also met in the pool stages, with the French winning home and away, though it was not all plain-sailing. They won 17-16 at home with a last-gasp penalty from Anthony Belleau back in November, while the away leg brought a 27-15 victory despite conceding a try in the opening minute of the game. Top seeds in the knockout stages thanks to four bonuspoint wins from their six poolstage victories, Toulon started the new French league season with a defeat at La Rochelle but scored five tries in beating Lyon last weekend. The Scarlets - with former Tigers back-rower Sione Kalamafoni in their ranks - beat Cardiff Blues (32-12) and the Dragons (41-20) in their PRO14 fixtures following the restart, but missed out on a place in the semi-finals when they were overhauled by Munster.

Bordeaux-Bègles began their new domestic season with a 25-20 win over Brive last weekend, with former Harlequins fly-half Ben Botica kicking the final points just moments after they had gone to 14 men following a red card. Top tryscorers among the eight qualifiers from the pool stages, a draw with Edinburgh was the only blemish on a record which also featured home-and-away wins over Wasps and Agen. Edinburgh were beaten 22-19 by Ulster in the semifinals of the restarted Pro14 season after winning home and away against domestic rivals Glasgow. Challenge Cup finalists in 2015, they have lost in the quarter-final stages in their last two campaigns in the tournament.

Fighting on two fronts, Bristol Bears have two games left to seal a place in the Gallagher Premiership top four, while also facing a Dragons side who have not won a game since the season’s restart. Bristol were well clear at the top of Pool 4 in qualifying and had already claimed their place in the knockouts before a 7-7 draw with Zebre in Italy in Round 6. They beat French Stade Francais home and away, and hammered Brive 36-0 on the road and 52-3 at Ashton Gate on the way. They were beaten by La Rochelle at this stage in 2018/19. Bears fly-half Callum Sheedy is just five short of 100 points in the Challenge Cup. The Dragons drew with the Ospreys in their first game after the resumption in the Pro14 but were beaten 41-20 by the Scarlets last time out. However, they have never lost a Challenge Cup quarter-final, winning twice at home and once away, against Gloucester in 2016.

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP ROLL OF HONOUR 2009 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 2003 WASPS 1997 BOURGOIN 2010 CARDIFF BLUES 2004 HARLEQUINS 1998 COLOMIERS 2011 HARLEQUINS 2005 SALE SHARKS 1999 MONTFERRAND 2012 BIARRITZ OLYMPIQUE 2006 GLOUCESTER 2000 PAU 2013 LEINSTER 2007 CLERMONT AUVERGNE 2001 HARLEQUINS 2014 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 2008 BATH RUGBY 2002 SALE SHARKS

2015 GLOUCESTER 2016 MONTPELLIER 2017 STADE FRANCAIS 2018 CARDIFF BLUES 2019 CLERMONT AUVERGNE

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THE GAME

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MEET THE OPPOSITION CASTRES OLYMPIQUE A unique set of circumstances mean that today’s visitors Castres Olympique have kicked off their 2020/21 campaign in France, while hosts Tigers continue their 2019/20 programme. The French domestic season was cancelled at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, with Castres sitting in ninth place with seven wins from 17 rounds before the authorities decided to end the season with no promotion or relegation. A new Top14 league season began two weeks ago with Castres opening with fixtures against the teams who occupied the bottom two positions back in March. First, they won 26-20 at Agen with Rory Kockott and Filipo Nakosi scoring tries. Then last Sunday, while Tigers were in derby action against Saints, they hosted Stade Francais, and went down 22-16 despite scoring the first try of the day and playing against 14 men for the final quarter of an hour. Benjamin Urdapilleta, once of Harlequins, scored all of the Castres points with a try, conversion and three penalties, all within the opening 43 minutes. In the Challenge Cup pool, a 23-point display from scrum-half Kockott in the 33-27 Round 6 victory at Worcester Warriors sealed top spot in Pool 1 ahead of the Dragons in the tightest of the qualifying groups.

And it was Tigers who pipped them to the post in terms of home advantage in the knockout stages by virtue of points difference, today’s hosts boasting a plus-86 figure against Castres’ total of plus-56. During the lockdown period, Castres said au revoir to two club stalwarts with the retirement of second-rowers Rodrigo Capo Ortega and Christophe Samson. They did bring in Canada international back-rower Tyler Ardron from Super Rugby side the Chiefs, who has already seen league action with the club, while also signing South African lock Ryno Pieterse from the Bulls and Fijian forward Semi Kunatani from Harlequins. The French club have a 50/50 record in Challenge Cup quarter-finals – winning two (in 1996/97 and 1999/2000) and losing two (in 1997/98 and 2007/08). In the two seasons they got beyond this stage, they also went on to reach the final, only to lose out to domestic rivals Bourgoin in 1997 and then Pau in 2000. Their best performance in the European Champions Cup was in 2001/02, when they went out to Munster in the semi-finals. It was their only appearance in that tournament’s knockout stages – and, of course, it was Leicester who lifted the trophy that season.

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THE BACKS Santiago Arata Scrum-half / Uruguay / 27 / Penarol Armand Battle Wing / - / 33 / Perpignan Vilimoni Botitu Centre / - / 27 / Fiji 7s Adrea Cocagi Wing / - / 26 / Perpignan Thomas Combezou Centre / - / 33 / Montpellier Yann David Centre / France / 32 / Toulouse

Jérémy Fernandez Scrum-half / - / 23 / Thomas Fortunel Fly-half / - / 25 / Montauban Bastien Guillemin Full-back / - / 22 / Grenoble Rory Kockott Scrum-half / France / 34 / Lions Martin Laveau Wing / - / 24 / Bayonne Filipo Nakosi Wing / Fiji / 28 / Toulon

ONE TO WATCH… Rory Kockott 34 / France / Scrum-half / Lions After playing Super Rugby with the Sharks and Lions, the scrum-half joined Castres in 2011 and now has more than 200 appearances, starring in the Top14 Final win over Toulon in 2013 when he also finished the season as the league's top points scorer.

Geoffrey Palis Full-back / France / 29 / Albi

Pierre Tatre Fly-half / - / 21 / -

Florian Viaelle Centre / - / 26 / Albi

Taylor Paris Wing / Canada / 27 / Agen

Benjamin Urdapilleta Fly-half / Argentina / 34 / Oyonnax

Name Position / Nationality / Age / Former Club

KEY

Julien Dumora Fly-half / - / 32 / Lyon

THE FORWARDS Stéphane Onambélé Flanker / - / 27 / Toulon

Mathew Tierney Prop / Canada / 24 / Pau

Gaëtan Barlot Hooker / - / 27 / Colomiers

Ryno Pieterse Lock / - / 22 / Bulls

Ma’ama Vaipulu Back Row / Tonga / 31 / Chiefs

Wayan De Bennedittis Prop / - / 21 / -

Marc-Antoine Rallier Hooker / - / 31 / Colomiers

Florent Vanverberghe Lock / - / 20 / Toulon

Baptiste Delaporte Back Row / - / 23 / -

Tudor Stroe Prop / - / 27 / Tarbes

Kévin Firmin Hooker / - / 28 / Dax

Antoine Tichit Prop / - / 31 / Oyonnax

Camille Gerondeau Back Row / - / 32 / Clermont Wilfrid Hounkpatin Prop / - / 19 / Loic Jacquet Lock / France / 35 / Clermont Anthony Jelonch Back Row / France / 24 / Kevin Kornath Flanker / - / 23 / Montpellier Daniel Kotze Prop / France / 33 / Clermont Semi Kunatani Back Row / Fiji / 29 / Harlequins Hans N’kinsi Lock / - / 27 / Julius Nostadt Prop / - / 27 / Aurillac Rian Oliver Lock / - / 27 / -

KEY

Tyler Ardron Back Row / Canada / 29 / Chiefs

THE GAME

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Name Position / Nationality / Age / Former Club

ONE TO WATCH… Mathieu Babillot 27 / France / Back row Club captain Mathieu Babillot made his European Cup debut for Castres as a 19-year-old back in 2013 and won his first caps for France in the 2018 Six Nations.

See you after the interval

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THE GAME

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CAUGHT ON CAMERA J A K E K E R R AT T H E B O T T O M O F T H E P I L E T O S C O R E A G A I N S T C A LV I S A N O I N T H E C H A L L E N G E C U P Â

P H O T O G R A P H E R : D AV E WA I N W R I G H T / T I G E R I M A G E S

THE BUSINESS

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FROM THE BOARDROOM

SPONSORED BY:

Tigers chief executive officer Andrea Pinchen shares her thoughts one month since the restart of rugby.

A great stadium just waiting for you. Picture: EPCR

now for whenever that opportunity arises and we are pushing as hard as we can to gain all of the support necessary to re-open our doors to supporters and to host our own ‘pilot’ in one of rugby’s iconic club venues and one of the great sporting cities. At our open forum this week Geordan mentioned that he felt sorry for the players who have only experienced an empty Welford Road so far, because he knows exactly what they are missing having been part of so many great days here. For now, we remain behind closed doors as attention turns to Europe this afternoon with a place in the semi-finals for the winners of this game against Castres Olympique. This is our first game since the win over Saints and I want to take a moment to congratulate Ben Youngs on making his 250th appearance

and, of course, his try in an important win. The Youngs name has served this club well over many years and we all hope their legacy will continue into the future. That never-give-up ethic we’ve seen in the later stages of recent games, combined with a huge defensive effort, reaped the reward of another win over our closest rivals. While the club, of course, aims to consistently be at the higher echelons of English and European rugby, you have to enjoy the wins and it sets us up for another exciting afternoon today. Andrea Pinchen

There are still a few weeks left in the re-jigged 2019/20 season, which seems hard to believe considering it kicked off back on September 21 last year. It’s even more remarkable when you think of the steps that professional club rugby has made in just over one month since we got back on the pitch and with the season’s climax now very much in sight. Successful pilot events have been hosted at Twickenham Stoop and at Kingsholm where a small number of fans were able to get into stadiums. There are a couple more planned for coming weeks which will all provide valuable feedback and, combined with the lessons learnt from other sports, take us all another step along the way towards the day when we can welcome our own supporters back to Welford Road. We have said many times already that Tigers are ready

MATCHDAY EXPERIENCES

PLAYER SPONSOR A player sponsorship is a great way to boost your company profile for an entire season at the biggest rugby club in the country. It includes the chance for your player to attend an event of your choice, strengthening the connection between player and sponsor. Our packages offer opportunities for brand exposure both online and offline through a mixture of events, brand placement and logo rights, as well as player interaction, matchday experiences and unique club events. There are many benefits in sponsoring a player, for further details please contact our Sales executive Molly Smith.

Book online at www.leicestertigers.com/hospitality or email molly.smith@tigers.co.uk

THE BUSINESS

CLUB PARTNERS Welcome and thank you to all of our partners for the 2019/20 season...

M A I N PA R T N E R

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THE TEAM

THE MANAGEMENT TEAM

Position: Director of Rugby Honours: Ireland/Lions

Position: Head Coach Honours: England

Position: Head of Physical Performance

Teresa CARRINGTON

Aled WALTERS

Steve BORTHWICK

Geordan MURPHY

THE TIGERS TEAM

Position: Team Manager

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Position: Head of Analysis

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Position: Assistant coach

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THE TEAM

Charlie CLARE

Cyle BRINK

Ryan BOWER

Sam ASPLAND-ROBINSON

F I R S T-T E A M S Q U A D

Position: Wing

Position: Prop

Position:

Back row

Position: Hooker

Born: 03/01/97

Born: 25/02/91

Born: 16/01/94

Born: 16/12/91

Height:

1.88m/6ft 2in

Height:

1.85m/6ft 1in

Height:

1.91m/6ft 3in

Height:

1.83m/6ft 0in

Weight:

97kg/15st 3lb

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105kg/16st 7lb

Weight:

113kg/17st 11lb

Weight:

112kg/17st 9lb

ACADEMY GRADUATE SPONSORED BY:

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Position:

George FORD

Blake ENEVER

Dan COLE

Jordan COGHLAN

Back row

Position: Prop

Position: Lock

Position: Fly-half

Born: 30/10/92

Born: 09/05/87

Born: 06/10/85

Born: 16/03/93

Height:

1.95m/6ft 4in

Height:

1.91m/6ft 3in

Height:

2.00m/6ft 6in

Height:

1.78m/5ft 10in

Weight:

115kg/18st 1lb

Weight:

123kg/19st 5lb

Weight:

116kg/18st 4lb

Weight:

86kg/13st 7lb

Honours: England/Lions

Honours: Australia

ACADEMY GRADUATE SPONSORED BY:

SPONSORED BY:

Honours: England ACADEMY GRADUATE

SPONSORED BY:

AVA I L A B L E T O SPONSOR

SPONSORED BY:

Tom HARDWICK

Calum GREEN

Facundo GIGENA

Ellis GENGE

THE TEAM

F I R S T-T E A M S Q U A D

Position: Prop

Position: Lock

Position: Fly-half/Centre

Born: 16/02/95

Born: 15/09/94

Born: 15/07/90

Born: 24/03/99

Height:

1.86m/6ft 1in

Height:

1.83m/6ft 0in

Height:

1.93m/6ft 4in

Height:

1.81m/5ft 11in

Weight:

119kg/18st 10lb

Weight:

114kg/17st 13lb

Weight:

115kg/18st 1lb

Weight:

95kg/14st 13lb

Honours: England

SPONSORED BY:

Honours: Argentina

SPONSORED BY:

ACADEMY GRADUATE

SPONSORED BY:

AVA I L A B L E T O SPONSOR

Tomas LAVANINI

Jake KERR

Zack HENRY

Joe HEYES

Position: Fly-half/Full-back

Position: Prop

Position: Hooker

Position: Lock

Born: 01/10/94

Born: 13/04/99

Born: 13/04/96

Born: 22/01/93

Height:

1.82m/6ft 0in

Height:

1.91m/6ft 3in

Height:

1.88m/6ft 2in

Height:

2.01m/6ft 7in

Weight:

91kg/14st 5lb

Weight:

120kg/18st 12lb

Weight:

108kg/17st 0lb

Weight:

126kg/19st 12lb

Honours: Scotland

Honours: Argentina

SPONSORED BY:

ACADEMY GRADUATE SPONSORED BY:

AVA I L A B L E T O SPONSOR

SPONSORED BY:

THE TEAM

Shalva MAMUKASHVILI

Hanro LIEBENBERG

Sam LEWIS

Nephi LEITIGAGA

F I R S T-T E A M S Q U A D

Position: Prop

Position: Lock/Flanker

Position:

Back row

Position: Hooker

Born: 09/12/93

Born: 27/04/98

Born: 10/10/95

Born: 02/10/90

Height:

1.87m/6ft 2in

Height:

1.95m/6ft 5in

Height:

1.97m/6ft 5 in

Height:

1.80m/5ft 11in

Weight:

138kg/21st 10lb

Weight:

106kg/16st 10lb

Weight:

112kg/17st 7lb

Weight:

107kg/16st 10lb

Honours: Samoa

Honours: Georgia ACADEMY GRADUATE

SPONSORED BY:

AVA I L A B L E T O SPONSOR

Jordan OLOWOFELA

Nemani NADOLO

Kini MURIMURIVALU

Johnny McPHILLIPS

Position: Fly-half

Position: Full-back/Wing

Position: Wing/Centre

Position: Wing/Full-back

Born: 13/03/97

Born: 15/05/89

Born: 31/01/88

Born: 17/04/98

Height:

1.84m/6ft 0in

Height:

1.75m/5ft 9in

Height:

1.96m/6ft 5in

Height:

1.88m/6ft 2in

Weight:

86kg/13st 7lb

Weight:

86kg/13st 8lb

Weight:

136kg/21st 5lb

Weight:

86kg/13st 8lb

Honours: Fiji

Honours: Fiji ACADEMY GRADUATE

SPONSORED BY:

AVA I L A B L E T O SPONSOR

SPONSORED BY:

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Matt SCOTT

Tommy REFFELL

Harry POTTER

Guy PORTER

THE TEAM

F I R S T-T E A M S Q U A D

Position: Centre/Wing

Position: Wing/Centre

Position: Flanker

Position: Centre

Born: 23/01/97

Born: 15/12/97

Born: 27/04/99

Born: 30/09/90

Height:

1.85m/6ft 1in

Height:

1.84m/6ft 0in

Height:

1.84m/6ft 0in

Height:

1.86m/6ft 1in

Weight:

98kg/15st 6lb

Weight:

95kg/14st 13lb

Weight:

103kg/16st 3lb

Weight:

101kg/15st 12lb

Honours: Scotland ACADEMY GRADUATE SPONSORED BY:

SPONSORED BY:

AVA I L A B L E T O SPONSOR

SPONSORED BY:

AVA I L A B L E T O SPONSOR

Kobus VAN WYK

Harry SIMMONS

Jordan TAUFUA

Jaco TAUTE

Position: Scrum-half

Position:

Back row

Position: Centre/Full-back

Position: Wing/Centre

Born: 25/11/97

Born: 29/01/92

Born: 21/03/91

Born: 22/01/92

Height:

1.81m/5ft 11in

Height:

1.91m/6ft 3in

Height:

1.91m/6ft 3 in

Height:

1.90m/6ft 3in

Weight:

90kg/14st 2lb

Weight:

113kg/17st 11lb

Weight:

108kg/17st 0lb

Weight:

98kg/15st 6lb

Honours:

South Africa

ACADEMY GRADUATE SPONSORED BY:

SPONSORED BY:

AVA I L A B L E T O SPONSOR

THE TEAM

George WORTH

Ben WHITE

Harry WELLS

Luke WALLACE

F I R S T-T E A M S Q U A D

Back row

Position: Lock

Position: Scrum-half

Position: Full-back/Centre

Born: 02/10/90

Born: 29/09/93

Born: 27/05/98

Born: 08/10/96

Height:

1.86m/6ft 1in

Height:

1.96m/6ft 5in

Height:

1.81m/5ft 11in

Height:

1.88m/6ft 2in

Weight:

101kg/15st 12lb

Weight:

118kg/18st 8lb

Weight:

87kg/13st 11lb

Weight:

93kg/14st 9lb

Position:

SPONSORED BY:

ACADEMY GRADUATE

SPONSORED BY:

AVA I L A B L E T O SPONSOR

Tom YOUNGS

Ben YOUNGS

Position: Scrum-half

Position: Hooker

Born: 05/09/89

Born: 28/01/87

Height:

1.79m/5ft 10in

Height:

1.75m/5ft 9in

Weight:

88kg/13st 12lb

Weight:

104kg/16st 5lb

Honours: England/Lions

ACADEMY GRADUATE

SPONSORED BY:

Sam EDWARDS

Osman DIMEN

Ollie CHESSUM

AVA I L A B L E T O SPONSOR

Position: Scrum-half Born: 19/12/00 ACADEMY GRADUATE

Position: Lock Born: 18/06/01 ACADEMY GRADUATE

Position: Back row Born: 29/09/01 ACADEMY GRADUATE

Position: Back row Born: 02/12/99 ACADEMY GRADUATE

AVA I L A B L E T O SPONSOR

Position: Full-back Born: 12/05/00 ACADEMY GRADUATE

Position: Prop Born: 06/05/02 ACADEMY GRADUATE AVA I L A B L E T O SPONSOR

Jack VAN POORTVLIET

AVA I L A B L E T O SPONSOR

Thom SMITH

AVA I L A B L E T O SPONSOR

Position: Lock Born: 09/07/01 ACADEMY GRADUATE

Freddie STEWARD

Position: Back row Born: 05/07/00 ACADEMY GRADUATE

AVA I L A B L E T O SPONSOR

Jack ROWNTREE

AVA I L A B L E T O SPONSOR

Position: Centre Born: 16/06/01

Position: Scrum-half Born: 15/05/01 ACADEMY GRADUATE

Archie VANES

AVA I L A B L E T O SPONSOR

Position: Back row Born: 20/03/02 ACADEMY GRADUATE

George MARTIN

AVA I L A B L E T O SPONSOR

Tom MANZ

Position: Lock Born: 13/01/00

Jonny LAW

Position: Back row Born: 12/02/00 ACADEMY GRADUATE

Henri LAVIN

Position: Centre/Fly-Half Born: 22/08/01 ACADEMY GRADUATE

Dan KELLY

Position: Scrum-half Born: 14/06/02 ACADEMY GRADUATE

Emeka ILIONE

Position: Prop Born: 30/09/98

Cameron HENDERSON

Position: Lock Born: 06/09/00

Taylor GOUGH

Position: Wing/Centre Born: 14/04/01 ACADEMY GRADUATE

Kit SMITH

Joe BROWNING

Ollie ASHWORTH Position: Back row Born: 21/05/01 ACADEMY GRADUATE

Harry GLYNN

THE TEAM

DEVELOPMENT SQUAD

Position: Hooker Born: 16/09/01 ACADEMY GRADUATE AVA I L A B L E T O SPONSOR

James WHITCOMBE

THE TEAM

DEVELOPMENT SQUAD

Position: Prop Born: 20/11/00 ACADEMY GRADUATE AVA I L A B L E T O SPONSOR

2 0 1 9 / 2 0 P L AY E R S P O N S O R

To enquire about sponsoring a Leicester Tigers player, contact our sales team on 0116 217 1215

SEASON STATS 2019/20 Date Comp

Opponents

ATTACK Att

Result

DEFENCE D

D Pos

ASPLAND-ROBINSON BATEMAN BATLEY BOLADAU BOWER BRINK CHESSUM CLARE COGHLAN COLE CORTES COSTELOW EASTMOND ENEVER FORD FORSYTH GENGE GIGENA GREEN HARDWICK HARRISON

T H E S TO RY

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SEPTEMBER 2019 Sat 21

PRC

Worcester Warriors

Fri 27

PRC

Exeter Chiefs (7:45pm)

6,037

13-31

● 23-57

13,633

17-07

● 27-07

OCTOBER 2019 Sat 5

PRC

Bath Rugby

13,190

15-00

● 18-07

Sat 12

PRC

Northampton Saints

16,160

10-14

● 22-31

Sat 19

GPR

Worcester Warriors

7,740

13-15

● 16-24

Sun 27

GPR

Saracens

18,533

10-14

● 10-24

17,559

10-06

● 16-13

5,324

13-15

● 11-36

15,250

24-13

● 41-20

NOVEMBER 2019 11

Sat 2

GPR

Gloucester Rugby

Sun 10

GPR

London Irish (2:30pm)

Sat 16

ECC

Pau

Sat 23

ECC

Cardiff Blues (8:00pm)

7,122

08-11

● 14-11

Sat 30

GPR

Northampton Saints

15,200

10-24

● 13-36

15,073

24-13

● 59-07

2,500

08-11

● 20-13

6 11 9

DECEMBER 2019 Sat 7

ECC

Rugby Calvisano

Sat 14

ECC

Rugby Calvisano (1:30pm)

Sat 21

GPR

Exeter Chiefs

21,219

22-14

● 22-31

Sat 28

GPR

Harlequins (4:30pm)

75,500

06-13

● 30-30

6 5

5 7 5

JANUARY 2020

Sat 4

GPR

Bristol Bears (1:00pm)

19,807

21-06

● 31-18

Sun 12

ECC

Cardiff Blues (3:15pm)

16,538

10-14

● 30-20

Sat 18

ECC

Pau (1:00pm)

6,124

07-24

● 17-24

Sat 25

GPR

Bath Rugby

14,029

03-05

● 10-13

23,353

03-06

● 18-09

7,208

03-19

● 03-36

18,268 08-08 ● 14-08

FEBRUARY 2020 Sat 15

GPR

Wasps

Fri 21

GPR

Sale Sharks (7:45pm)

Sat 29

GPR

Worcester Warriors

Saracens (1:00pm)

MARCH 2020 Sat 7

GPR

5,500

06-07

● 13-24

AUGUST 2020 6

Sat 15

GPR

Exeter Chiefs (2.00pm)

06-12

● 13-26

Sat 22

GPR

Bath Rugby (4:30pm)

06-26

● 16-38

Wed 26

GPR

London Irish (6:00pm)

10-00

● 13-07

Sun 30

GPR

Gloucester R. (4:30pm)

13-36

● 30-46

SEPTEMBER 2020 Sat 5

GPR

Sale Sharks

09-20

● 31-40

Wed 9

GPR

Wasps (5:30pm)

07-14

● 07-54

19-10

● 28-24

Sun 13

GPR

Northampton S. (2:00pm)

Sun 20

ECC

Castres Olympique

Sat 26

ECC

Semi-Finals (8:00pm)

Wed 30

GPR

Bristol Bears (5:30pm)

OCTOBER 2020 Sun 4

GPR

Harlequins

10–11

GPR

Semi-Finals

Fri 16

ECC

Final

Sat 24

GPR

Final

GPR ECC PRC

Gallagher Premiership Rugby European Challenge Cup Premiership Rugby Cup

TOTAL 67 48 56 5 93 73 38 1

Sta

9 5 13

8 5 5

5 6

Started match 5

5 5

Used as a replacement

Bench (not used)

8 10 5 7

11 5

20 5

5 10 5

5 5 5

5 10 5

Points scored in match 5

10 5 5

5 5 5 5

3 5

8 5

6 5 1

5 5

All kick-off times 3pm unless stated otherwise All UK times

FORD FORSYTH GENGE GIGENA GREEN HARDWICK HARRISON HENDERSON HENRY HEYES HOLMES HUGHES JORDAN KALAMAFONI KELLY KERR LAVANINI LAW LEATIGAGA LEWIS LIEBENBERG LINES McPHILLIPS MAMUKASHVILI MARTIN MAY MURIMURIVALU NADOLO OLOWOFELA POLOTA-NAU PORTER POTTER REFFELL REID SCOTT SIMMONS SMITH SPENCER STEVENS STEWARD TAUFUA TAUTE THOMAS THOMPSON THOMPSTONE TUILAGI VAN POORTVLIET VAN WYK VEAINU VILJOEN WALLACE WELLS WHITE WILLIAMS WORTH B.YOUNGS T.YOUNGS PENALTY TRY

T H E S TO RY

6 L E I C E ST E R T I G E R S v C A S T RES OLY MP I QU E | EU R OP EA N CHA L L EN GE CU P

5 5

9 5

5 5

T H E S TO RY

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LAST TIME OUT…

Leicester Tigers 28-24 Northampton Saints Sunday September 13, 2020 / Gallagher Premiership Round 20 / Attendance: Closed Doors / Referee: Mr Wayne Barnes

TEAMS... TIGERS: 15 Freddie Steward

14 Kini Murimurivalu 13 Guy Porter 12 Matt Scott 11 Nemani Nadolo 10 Zack Henry

5P/C/DG

Ben Youngs

Facundo Gigena

Tom Youngs (c)

Dan Cole

Tomás Lavanini

Calum Green

Harry Wells

Luke Wallace

Hanro Liebenberg

REPLACEMENTS 16 Charlie Clare 17 Ellis Genge 18 Nephi Leatigaga

19 Thom Smith

Tigers took derby honours with victory over Northampton Saints last Sunday, after Ben Youngs set the team on their way with an early try in his 250th club appearance. Good work from Nemani Nadolo set up the chance for scrum-half Youngs to pick up loose ball and run in under the posts, and Zack Henry stretched the lead to 16-3 with his kicking as the game entered its second quarter. Tigers, though, lost Tomas Lavanini to a yellow card in defence on his own tryline and then had Harry Wells sin-binned as Saints gained a penalty try from a driving maul to pull back to within a converted score. The 13-man defence stood firm for the rest of the half, though, and Tigers edged further ahead as a long-range penalty from Freddie Steward made it 19-10 at the break. After a yellow card for Hanro Liebenberg, Tigers were thankful for two more Henry kicks to have some breathing space after a Paul Hill try had cut the gap to just five points. Saints grabbed a converted consolation score from replacement scrum-half Henry Taylor on the final whistle. NOTEBOOK: The 245th derby game brought a first win over Saints since the Twickenham meeting in October 2018… Ben Youngs led out the team in his 200th start and 250th firstteam appearance… Tigers debut for Kini Murimurivalu.

20 Jordan Taufua 21 Ben White 22 Johnny McPhillips 23 Harry Potter NORTHAMPTON: Furbank, Tuala, Proctor, Hutchinson, Naiyaravoro, Biggar, Mitchell; van Wyk, Fish, Franks, Ribbans, Ratuniyarawa, Lawes, Ludlam, Harrison (c). Reps: Haywood, Iyogun, Hill, Moon, Isiekwe, Tonks, Taylor, Dingwall

“The most important thing was we got a result. We wanted to give something back to the fans.” Nemani Nadolo

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Due to the many uncertainties created by the COVID-19 pandemic, and with tens of thousands of fans scheduled to travel to the south of France, it has been decided that the 2020 Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals will not be staged in Marseille as planned. The matches will now be played at an alternative venue or venues on the weekend of 16/17/18 October. Please see below for a series of FAQs which will be of assistance to fans.

FINALS WEEKEND

Q: When will the 2020 finals be played? A: The 2020 Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals are scheduled for the weekend of 16/17/18 October. Q: Where will the matches be played? A: EPCR is currently working with its shareholder leagues and unions to secure an alternative venue or venues for the two finals. Details will be announced as soon as practicable. Q: Why have the finals been moved from Marseille? A: EPCR and the local organising committee have decided that insufficient safeguards are in place for all stakeholders during the public health crisis to stage two high-profile matches at the 67,000-capacity Stade Vélodrome. Q: What is the situation regarding the 2021 and 2022 finals weekends? A: As part of this adjustment to its future planning, EPCR is pleased to confirm that Marseille will now host the 2021 Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals at the Stade Vélodrome on the weekend of 21/22 May, and that the matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London will be rescheduled for 2022.

TICKETS FOR THE FINALS WEEKEND

Q: Are tickets purchased for this season’s finals valid for the 2021 matches in Marseille? A: Yes. All ticket holders should have received an information email confirming that this season’s tickets will be valid for the 2021 finals. There will be no change to the ticket category or seat, and no additional charges. Q: Are ticket refunds available for the 2020 finals? A: Yes, All fans who have bought tickets for the 2020 finals and who have asked for a refund will shortly be reimbursed. Q: What is the process for ticket refunds? A: The information email received by the ticket holders explains how the process works. Refunds in full will be made by bank transfer to the ticket holder’s bank account. In order to request a refund, ticket holders should have the following: (i) the ticket transaction number (ii) email address (iii) IBAN and BIC numbers Q: Is there a deadline for ticket refund requests? A: Yes. Requests needed to be made before Friday 31 July. Q: Is customer service available to ticket holders? A: Yes. Firstly, please check the agency from which you bought the ticket and then make the relevant contact in the following ways: • Olympique de Marseille (OM): www.om.fr/en/contact or 0033 4 84 45 38 00 • Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR): sav.billetterie@lnr.fr or 0033 9 70 25 22 10 • France Billet or 0033 1 41 57 31 41 • TicketMaster Please note that all the requests for Finals Weekend 2020 ticket refunds have been received and are currently being processed. The team in Marseille currently has a high volume of requests and is facing some restrictions in usual processes as local authorities look to minimise the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. EPCR regrets any frustration that this may have caused and assure you that the team is working to finalise your refund in the shortest possible time.

T H E S TO RY

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T I G E R S S TAT S 2019/20

TIGERS TOTAL

NAME

APPS

TRIES

PTS

APPS

TRIES

SAM ASPLAND-ROBINSON

8+6

PTS -

GREG BATEMAN

10+5

48+43

JOE BATLEY

3+2

IFEREIMI BOLADAU

4+8

RYAN BOWER

1+1

3+6

CYLE BRINK

OLLIE CHESSUM

CHARLIE CLARE

4+7

4+6

JORDAN COGHLAN

7+3

DAN COLE

14+3

184+56

GASTON CORTES

1+2

2+8

SAM COSTELOW

1+2

KYLE EASTMOND

28+3

BLAKE ENEVER

GEORGE FORD

10+1

119

79+15

880

ANDREW FORSYTH

7+2

22+13

ELLIS GENGE

9+3

56+19

FACUNDO GIGENA

8+12

14+28

TAYLOR GOUGH

0+1

CALUM GREEN

16+2

30+9

TOM HARDWICK

11+7

16+16

121 44

SAM HARRISON

4+5

77+101

CAMERON HENDERSON

1+3

ZACK HENRY

4+2

JOE HEYES

13+10

18+27

OWEN HILLS

0+1

JONAH HOLMES

14+1

40+5

120

RORY HUGHES

CAMERON JORDAN

0+2

2+3

SIONE KALAMAFONI

14+1

63+1

DAN KELLY

1+1

JAKE KERR

5+12

14+29

TOMAS LAVANINI

16+2

HENRI LAVIN

0+1

JONNY LAW

0+1

0+2

NEPHI LEATIGAGA

4+22

SAM LEWIS

6+4

10+10

T H E S TO RY

L E I C E ST E R T I G E R S v C A S T RES OLY MP I QU E | EU R OP EA N CHA L L EN GE CU P

T I G E R S S TAT S 2019/20

TIGERS TOTAL

NAME

APPS

TRIES

PTS

APPS

TRIES

PTS

HANRO LIEBENBERG

11+2

KESTON LINES

0+1

SHALVA MAMUKASHVILI

JOHNNY McPHILLIPS

2+5

GEORGE MARTIN

2+1

150

JONNY MAY

KINI MURIMURIVALU

NEMANI NADOLO

JORDAN OLOWOFELA

11+3

30+11

TATAFU POLOTA-NAU

4+10

18+28

GUY PORTER

4+1

HARRY POTTER

3+1

TOMMY REFFELL

12+7

15+11

NOEL REID

13+6

MATT SCOTT

HARRY SIMMONS

3+6

7+14

THOM SMITH

3+3

4+3

WILL SPENCER

11+2

29+4

JIMMY STEVENS

0+1

2+9

FREDDIE STEWARD

6+2

6+4

JORDAN TAUFUA

9+5

JACO TAUTE

9+1

JOE THOMAS

5+1

GUY THOMPSON

10+3

25+8

ADAM THOMPSTONE

10+2

143+20

190

MANUSAMOA TUILAGI

119+10

205

JACK VAN POORTVLIET

3+1

KOBUS VAN WYK

TELUSA VEAINU

11+1

71+8

160

EW VILJOEN

LUKE WALLACE

3+2

HARRY WELLS

17+9

48+49

BEN WHITE

12+13

24+36

DAVID WILLIAMS

GEORGE WORTH

14+11

40+21

BEN YOUNGS

10+2

200+50

205

TOM YOUNGS

152+40

O P E N D AY S d m u . a c . u k /o p e n d a y s

SAT 19 SE PT

SAT 17 OCT

19. Tigers Match Day Ad - SEP OCT NOV- A5 - 148x210mm.indd 1

SAT 14 NOV

06/08/2020 12:27

More than 20 teams have taken on the Ultimate Big Boot during the current season as part of their matchday group booking. The Ultimate Big Boot is sponsored by De Montfort University and pits teams against each other in a headto-head format in front of a matchday crowd, with a £100 prize for the weekly winner. Any team that can claim all 10 balls will scoop a £2,000 jackpot. This season’s best score is shared by Welsh visitors Dinas Powys from half-time in the European Challenge Cup fixture against Cardiff Blues back in January and a young team from Newark RFC who joined the matchday crowd at Welford Road for the victory over Bristol Bears early in the year.

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Proud sponsors of the Junior Tigers Club

Sign-up to be part of the Junior Tigers Club for free by visiting www.leicestertigers.com/jtc

1 Which Tigers player kicked a long-range penalty in the win over Saints last week?

THE CLUB

5 to Tackle

2 Who got the Tigers try in the win over Saints? 3 Which player kicked 20 points against Saints last Sunday? 4 What colour shirt do Castres wear in their home games? Supported by

5 How many Fiji internationals are there in the Tigers squad?

Name the player Supported by The Nottingham Building Society and retailers NEXT, the Junior Tigers Club is THE place for thousands of young fans to celebrate their support of Leicester Tigers. Membership is free to supporters aged under-16. Sign up at www.leicestertigers.com/jtc

Who are the two players hiding in this blurred image from training?

Which ball is it? Can you identify the actual ball in this photo of fly-half Zack Henry?

JTC activity sheets Have you seen Welford’s sheets to try at home? There’s colouring, puzzles, dot-to-dot and other activities. Click here to see what’s in store…

Answers: Name the players: Facundo Gigena & Harry Wells, 5 to tackle: 1 Freddie Steward, 2 Ben Youngs, 3 Zack Henry, 4 Blue, 5 Two – Nemani Nadolo & Kini Murimurivalu, Which ball is it: C

THE CLUB

COMMUNITY TEAM SUPPORTING TIGERS’ COMMUNITY PROGRAMME

Grassroots clubs are now allowed to take part in adapted contact rugby activity, as per guidelines issued by the RFU, and the Tigers community team is looking forward to being able to pick up where they left off before lockdown. Sports clubs up and down the country were locked down in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, though with some measures now being eased, rugby players in the community have been able to return to small-scale training. The governing body published a national ‘Return to Rugby roadmap’ during the summer, made up of six stages, from Stage A relating to individual training with one other person, moving all the way through to Stage F with a return to competitive matches against other teams. We are now at Stage D which means that, as per government advice, groups of up to six players can now take part in adapted tackling, rucking and lineout drills. Scrums and mauls remain off limits for the timebeing, and full team game play activity is not permitted. Clubs can train with a maximum of 2 v 2 at the ruck (with a ball carrier and tackler, plus 1 v 1 on their feet over the ball). Unopposed lineout drills are permitted, with lifting of a jumper from the under-16s age group and above only. Guidance suggests that time spent face-to-face between the front lifter and jumper should be reduced to under three seconds. Tackles can only be made one-on-one at this stage, with players working in pairs for the whole training session where possible. Tackle

bags, shields and pads should be cleaned and sanitised after each player use. All groups are encouraged to observe social distancing before, during and after training where possible, while the RFU’s latest guidelines recommend the total time of all contact activity must not exceed 15 minutes per session. The modifications are there to allow us all to do what we can within the restrictions and to keep everyone safe as another step towards getting everyone back into our great game. Full guidance for the community game is available at englandrugby.com with resources, documents and other key information to help get your club back in the game.

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H AVE YOUR SAY ! Head to EPCRUGBY.COM/TOTR after the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals, and watch the best tries from the weekend. Then HAVE YOUR SAY and vote for your favourite to be in with a chance to win a top rugby prize! Good luck!

EP CRUGBY.COM/ TOT R

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FANZONE EXTRA...

THE TIGERS FORUM

The club hosted its first Virtual Tigers Forum this week as senior figures from the club answered questions put forward by supporters. Head coach Steve Borthwick, head of physical performance Aled Walters, director of rugby Geordan Murphy and club chief executive Andrea Pinchen joined supporters on a Zoom call to provide insight into work at Welford Road and Oval Park. The open forum has become an annual event at the stadium, with fans invited to ask questions to the panel, but this week the club went online to provide an alternative version due to the Covid restrictions. Questions were split into topics ranging from finance to team selection to recruitment and squad strength aimed at each panelist. Talking about the club’s progress on the pitch, Borthwick said: “I want us to develop, I want us to get better, and I look every day about what we can do better to coach this team to make more progress. “Players who have come through the Tigers Academy have had the opportunity to wear the shirt. That’s given me the chance to learn about players, and the one thing that is clear is you see how hard they have fought in representing the shirt.” On his journey so far with the club, Walters said: “I’ve really enjoyed it. With international

rugby, you have to work with the cards you’re dealt, but what I’m excited about is working with this group to see what we can achieve.” When asked about where the squad has improved, Murphy answered: “I can see a huge improvement in where we are from June already. “I’ve been hugely impressed with the clarity that Steve has given to the players. I don’t think any of the players are under any illusions on how we want to play.” The final question in the hour’s forum asked what supporters can do to help the team when they remain outside the stadium on matchdays. Murphy, aware that some recent additions in the squad have yet to experience a ‘true’ Tigers matchday with the fans, replied: “I feel sorry for the players who haven’t experienced Welford Road just yet! If you see players in and around the community, please make them feel welcome.” On the ongoing Covid situation, Pinchen explained: “It’s a difficult situation, but we’ve had to be adaptable. We have many extras costs coming in just as the revenue streams have dried up, but we’ve put ourselves in the position to ride the storm. “The support we have received is absolutely phenomenal and I can’t say a big enough thank you for that.”

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L E I C E ST E R T I G E R S v C A S TR ES OLY MP I QU E | EU R OP EA N CHA L L EN GE CUP

THE WHAT IF PAGE… WHAT IF THE GAME ENDS IN A DRAW? If the score is tied at the end of a knockout match, there will be a five-minute break - with the teams remaining on the pitch - before extra-time, consisting of two periods of 10 minutes. There is a one-minute break between the periods of extra-time.

AND THEN…? If scores are still tied after extra-time then the club that has scored more tries in the match (including extra-time) will be the winner.

IF THEY’RE STILL LEVEL? If scores are tied and the teams have also scored the same number of tries after extratime, then the referee will conduct a place-kick competition to determine the winner. 64

HOW DOES A PLACE-KICK COMPETITION WORK? With all players and match officials still on the pitch, the referee will conduct two coin-tosses - the first will decide which team selects the end where kicks will be taken, and the second will decide which team selects whether it wishes to kick first or second. For the avoidance of doubt, it may be that the same team wins both tosses. Each team nominates three players to take part in the competition. Only players on the playing area at the final whistle of extra-time may be nominated. Kicker 1 from Team A kicks first from Position 1 (on the 22-metre line, centrally in front of the posts). Kicker 1 from Team B follows. Kicker 2 from Team A kicks from Position 2, on the junction of the 22-metre line and 15-metre mark to the right of the posts. Then Kicker 2 from Team B. Kicker 3 kicks from Position 3, as above but on the left-side of the pitch. Kicker 1 then kicks from Position 4, centrally on the 10-metre line, then Kicker 2 from the right and Kicker 3 from the left.

After each of the nominated players has taken his two kicks, the referee declares the winning team based on the number of successful kicks.

OR…? If there is an equal number of successful kicks, kickers continue on a ‘sudden death’ basis. All kicks are from Position 4 (central, on the 10-metre line), beginning with Kicker 1 from each team, then Kicker 2 and 3. This competition continues until one player succeeds with a kick and the player from the other team taking the corresponding kick misses.

ANY OTHER RULES? Once a player has positioned the ball on the kicking tee, he must take the kick within one minute. Should he take longer, the referee shall declare the kick unsuccessful. The kick’s success is at the sole decision of the referee, who may at his sole discretion rely on the assistance of his assistant referees. The referee’s decision is final and binding. If a player selected to kick becomes injured in the competition, he may be replaced, but only by a player who was on the pitch at the end of extra-time.

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ON THIS DAY... 1902

1947

1972

A try from Matt Braithwaite and a drop-goal from Alf Butlin completed a 7-0 win over Bristol in the second of seven successive wins from the start of the season.

Plymouth Albion were beaten 12-3 at Welford Road as Tigers made it three from three at the start of the season. Unfortunately the run was followed by nine defeats in a row.

Fly-half Bleddyn Jones, who would play 42 times in the season, claimed his first try alongside two from John Duggan in a 26-12 midweek win at Nottingham. There was also a debut score for prop Mark Churchward, who would make only one more appearance for the club.

1913 James Hargrave scored the try in a 3-8 defeat at home to Pontypool in front of a crowd of more than 5,000 at Welford Road. 1919

Teddy Haselmere and Alf Bates each scored twice in a 39-3 win over Coventry. Haselmere also added six conversions on his way to a seasonal haul of 242 points. 1922 A midweek game away to Rugby BTH brought a 19-0 win with Percy Lawrie, Teddy Haselmere and Norman Coates - who spent the season alternating between centre and the forward pack among the scorers. 1924 Oliver Bryson scored the try in a 9-11 defeat at home to Plymouth, after three successive wins to start the season. 1930 New captain Harry Greenlees was among the tryscorers in a 20-9 win over visitors Plymouth Albion. He also kicked two conversions and a drop-goal.

1952 John Jenkins made his debut in a 27-6 win over Plymouth Albion to make it three wins in a row from the start of the season, with Peter Konig scoring two of the six tries. 1954 Tigers lost 11-14 to Cardiff on a Monday evening fixture at Welford Road. The entire XV had also started the win over Plymouth Albion two days earlier and there was only one change for the trip to Harlequins five days later.

1977 Bob Barker scored four times in a 47-3 midweek win at Sheffield to take his total to 11 in six games from the start of the season. Young backrower Ian ‘Dosser’ Smith made the first of 331 first-team appearances. 1980 Garry Adey and Nigel Gillingham scored tries in a 30-15 win over London Welsh.

1958

1986

Tom Bleasdale maintained his run of scoring in every game from the start of the season, as the Tigers captain made it four in four in an 18-5 win over Plymouth Albion.

Rory Underwood ran in four tries in a 69-4 win over London Welsh – a week after doing the same in the 49-6 victory at Nuneaton.

1969

Julien Dupuy’s first try for the club earned a 19-17 win at Worcester to make it three from three at the start of the season.

Tigers scored 11 tries in the season’s biggest win, beating Gosforth 48-6, with Graham Jackson, Trevor Spence and Mike Yandle claiming two each.

2008

2014 Scrum-half David Mélé was sent off in a 45-0 defeat at Bath.

NEW FORMATS FOR THE 2020/2021 SEASON We have all been affected in some way by the COVID-19 pandemic and club rugby, as a sport, is no different. The 2019/20 season was considerably disrupted, with the conclusion of the European tournaments coming on what was due to be the first weekend of the 2020/21 campaign and after the end of an abridged Guinness PRO14 season and a Top 14 campaign that had to be abandoned amid the public health crisis. As a result, the Heineken Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup will have a brand-new look for 2020/21 on an exceptional basis. The Heineken Champions Cup has been expanded to cater for 24 elite clubs made up of eight top-ranked teams from each of the three leagues. Over eight weekends, they will compete for the most coveted title in the European club game. By means of a draw, the clubs will be divided into two pools of 12 - Pool A and Pool B - with the clubs in four tiers based on how they are ranked in their respective leagues. In this new and dynamic format, there will be no repeat of domestic matches in the Pool Stage and clubs in the same tier from the same league will not play against one another either. Clubs in Tier 1 will play against clubs in Tier 4, while the clubs in Tier 2 will play against the clubs in Tier 3. Each club will play four matches during the pool stage - two at home and two away. The four

highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualify for the quarter-finals, played over two legs – home and away. The four next-best clubs from each pool qualify for the round of 16 of the Challenge Cup. There’s no change to the semi-final format and next season’s Heineken Champions Cup final will be staged in Marseille on 22 May 2021. This expanded tournament creates new competitive opportunities for Europe’s top clubs and their fans. In this time of change the Heineken Champions Cup, with its global stars of the game, its passionate supporters and its unique match-day atmosphere remains undoubtedly The One to Win. Meanwhile, 14 sides will start next season in the Challenge Cup, playing two matches home and away at the preliminary stage to provide a classification from which the top eight sides will progress to the Round of 16. That tournament becomes a straight shootout from April onwards, with one-off knockout matches all the way through to Finals Weekend.

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WALLACE OR WILLIAMSON

Cover star: Nephi Leatigaga

There is more than a passing resemblance between Tigers back-rower Luke Wallace and the club’s social media guru Sam Williamson. Okay, there is a passing resemblance in the haircut, if not poise on a WattBike.

Editorial: Gary Sherrard, Phil Warrington, Jonathan Whitney & Sam Williamson Photography: Dave Wainwright, Malcolm Couzens, Geoff Sellars & James Baylis for Tiger Images and the team at Getty Images Design and Production: Ignition Sports Media

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY… Happy birthday to Tigers season ticket holders celebrating today. We’re sorry that you’re unable to share it at Welford Road, but we look forward to seeing you again soon. • • • • • • • • • • •

Russell Abbott John Barks Dwain Burdett Jack Caffrey Andrew Densley Michael Fowler Joy Griffin Alan Hanley Karen Harman Marc Harvey Ellie Hollis

• • • • • • • • • • •

Andrew Issott Simon James Gary Johnson Robert Kearney Glynn Kenyon Jonathan Kingsley-Mills Graham Lee Andrew Macdonald Tony Martin Faye Millington Joshua Mottram

• • • • • •

Kathleen Peake Ellie Smith Jim Turnbull Dominic Walker Jane Wallhead Scott Woodford

LEAD WITHOUT EXAMPLE Navigate a crisis like no other with the Financial Times. Read more at ft.com/newagenda