Leicester Tigers v Wasps Digital Matchday Programme (20-02-2021) by Leicester Tigers

LEICESTER TIGERs

VERSUS

WASPS

G A L L AG H E R P R E M I E R S H I P SAT U R DAY, F E B R UA R Y 2 0, 2 0 2 1 K I C K- O F F 3.0 0 P M

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LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

THE TEAMS

LEICESTER TIGERS

WASPS

S TA R T I N G X V -

FREDDIE STEWARD

T P C D

MATTEO MINOZZI

KOBUS VAN WYK

T P C D

ZACH KIBIRIGE

ARG

MATÍAS MORONI

T P C D

MALAKAI FEKITOA

NZL

SCO

MATT SCOTT

T P C D

JIMMY GOPPERTH

KINI MURIMURIVALU

T P C D

JOSH BASSETT

ZACK HENRY

T P C D

CHARLIE ATKINSON

RICHARD WIGGLESWORTH (C)

T P C D

SAM WOLSTENHOLME

LUAN DE BRUIN

T P C D

TOM WEST

JULIÁN MONTOYA

T P C D

TOMMY TAYLOR

ENG

DAN COLE

T P C D

KIERAN BROOKES

ENG

TOMÁS LAVANINI

T P C D

LEVI DOUGLAS

CALUM GREEN

T P C D

JAMES GASKELL

HANRO LIEBENBERG

T P C D

BRAD SHIELDS (C)

FIJ ENG ARG ENG / LIONS ARG

ITA -

ENG

CYLE BRINK

T P C D

BEN MORRIS

JASPER WIESE

T P C D

TOM WILLIS

ENG / LIONS

TOM YOUNGS

T P C D

NEPHI LEATIGAGA JOE HEYES

R E P L AC E M E N T S

SAM -

T P C D

TOM CRUSE

T P C D

BEN HARRIS

T P C D

JEFF TOOMAGA-ALLEN

HARRY WELLS

T P C D

THEO VUKASINOVIC

TOMMY REFFELL

T P C D

SIONE VAILANU

TON

JACK VAN POORTVLIET

T P C D

BEN VELLACOTT

JOHNNY McPHILLIPS

T P C D

JACOB UMAGA

DAN KELLY

T P C D

MICHAEL LE BOURGEOIS

M AT C H O F F I C I A L S Referee: Mr Craig Maxwell-Keys Assistants: Mr Jack Makepeace & Mr John Meredith TMO: Ms Claire Hodnett Citing Officer: Mr Allister Hogg A N Y L AT E C H A N G E S W I L L B E C O N F I R M E D O N T H E W E B S I T E

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LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS CONTENTS 3 TEAMS 7

WELCOME FROM THE CHAIRMAN

FROM THE TOUCHLINE

CLUB NEWS

WE SALUTE DAN COLE

MEET THE OPPOSITION

MATCH PREVIEWS

FULL FIXTURE LIST

SQUAD STATS

TIGERS MATCHFILE

FROM THE BOARDROOM

TIGERS PLAYING SQUAD

AROUND THE WORLD CHALLENGE

TIGERS FOUNDATION

JUNIOR TIGERS CLUB

MATT HAMPSON FOUNDATION

ON THIS DAY

STATS PACK

TIGERS FANZONE

LEICESTER FOOTBALL CLUB PLC Telephone 0116 319 8888 www.leicestertigers.com Facebook.com/LeicesterTigers Twitter @LeicesterTigers instagram.com/leicestertigers Executive Chairman: Peter Tom CBE Chief Executive: Andrea Pinchen Head Coach: Steve Borthwick Directors: Petar Cvetkovic,

Duncan Green, Ben Kay MBE, Fintan Kennedy, Tom Scott Company Secretary: Mary Ford Life Members: Garry Adey, John Allen, Bob Beason, Paul Dodge, Matt Hampson OBE, 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)

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LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

Peter Tom CBE

CHAIRMAN Welcome to matchday and to the visit of the players and officials from our near-neighbours Wasps. There has been a keen rivalry between the teams for many years, which has only been added to since Wasps left London to move to Coventry and the teams have produced some classic encounters. Last week, Steve and the team were disappointed to come away from Harlequins without anything after scoring three tries and then having that one last chance in the corner close to the tryline. The tries conceded in the minutes either side of half-time were ultimately the difference but there was a clear signal of the type of team we want here and Steve noted the strength of ‘the fight’ and the ‘steel’ in the players. It was another occasion of personal celebration as Dan Cole reached his 250th first-team appearance and I send congratulations on the immense achievement and the contribution he continues to make within the club. Dan is a local lad who came all the way through the Academy, building his knowledge and experience until he was able to claim the shirt for himself ahead of some more senior players and he has held it ever since. Add his international caps to that Tigers total and you can see what an influence he has had at the very top of the game for 10 years or more. Coupled with a 200th game for Tom Youngs and then another landmark for the Youngs family, it has been an incredible few weeks for milestones. Dan, Tom and Ben all came through the Academy ranks at the club to win Premiership titles and Test recognition, and they act as an example to all of those young players attempting to break through into senior rugby. Last Saturday’s performance was notable for the impact of three of their successors in Freddie, George and Jack who are all settling into first-team

surroundings and, as Steve says, are all keen to develop and improve. It is that combination of homegrown talent alongside the strengths brought in from elsewhere that we have seen in the very best of Tigers teams over the years and it is something we are all keen to continue. It takes considerable investment to nurture talent through a successful Academy, but the work we have done there in recent years and the measures

George Martin has stepped up strongly

we have put in place throughout the club since the start of the Covid situation gives us the belief that there will be more like Dan, Tom, Ben, Freddie and the others in future representing the #TigersFamily in the first team. Your continued support plays a huge part in that and, as always, I thank you for your commitment and loyalty to the Tigers and hope to see you all again soon.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 7PM VIRTUAL EVENT

£45 PER HOUSEHOLD

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LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

Head coach Steve Borthwick

FROM THE TOUCHLINE We want our players to earn their opportunity to play for Leicester Tigers. When you look at those players, they have done really well and are maturing and growing as rugby players. They have grasped their opportunity. It is always a positive for us to bring through young players and if we look at the players coming through in this last period - including James Whitcombe, Joe Heyes, Ollie Chessum, George Martin, Jack van Poortvliet, Freddie Steward, Dan Kelly - there is a big crop of 19, 20, 21-year-olds pushing into the first team and playing games. Freddie Steward, as a 20-year-old, was the most experienced back last weekend in terms of games for Leicester Tigers, and the most experienced forward was 21-year-old Joe Heyes. We are fortunate in that we have some great young players who really grasp their opportunities and thrive at every challenge put in front of them. From a coach point of view, that is very enjoyable."

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LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

CLUB NEWS

TIGERS SEASON TICKETS With the prospect of home games remaining behind closed doors into the second half of the current season, the club has announced that all season ticket money will be transferred directly to the 2021-22 season and Direct Debit payments will be suspended for 12 months. Full details have been sent to season ticket holders, including: • If you made a one-off payment for a season ticket, this amount will now be transferred to cover the 2021-22 season. • If you pay by Direct Debit, this will be suspended for 12 months following the instalment this month and your payment will be credited to a 2021-22 season ticket. • If any games are open to supporters in the remainder of the current season, match tickets will be sold via a ballot system to which season ticket holders will have priority status. • TryLine Club and Clubhouse memberships will be treated as outlined above. • All season ticket prices and rights for 2021-22 will remain unchanged. • The price for any supporter who is due to move up an age category from Junior or Young Adult/Full-Time Student in 2021-22 will remain at your 2020-21 rate. • Under-12s who received a free season ticket for 2020-21 when accompanied by a full paying adult will have their place renewed for FREE in 2021-22 - including those who were due to move out of the age-group next season. • Season ticket holders who agree to transfer payments to next season will retain full season ticket benefits for the rest of 2020-21 AND for 2021-22, including the 10 per cent shop discount. • The Rebate scheme under our Priority Support - Confidence initiative will be similarly transferred to 2021-22, allowing a Rebate or Credit for any game a season ticket holder cannot attend due to Covid restrictions. • There is also an option to Donate season ticket money to the club.

YEAR TO REMEMBER The Class of 2000-01 have been sharing their memories of the road to European Cup victory as part of the 20th Anniversary celebrations of an historic season. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Tigers’ famous victory over Stade Français at the Parc des Princes in Paris to lift the Heineken Cup and Mattioli Woods Welford Road is hosting a special evening on Wednesday, May 19 with a chance for supporters to join some rugby legends. Check out the Tigers website for links to memories from legendary captain Martin Johnson on the “biggest club game” of his career and Darren Garforth’s prize souvenir. The celebration event is hosted in partnership with Switch the Play Foundation, a charity cofounded by Leon Lloyd and the UK’s only charity dedicated to supporting all sportspeople to successfully transition into life outside of sport. Save £20 on tickets for the evening with the Early Bird offer now. There are full details on the club website.

The Tigers sales team are contacting seasonal corporate clients separately. For full details, see the Tickets section of the club website and the list of Frequently Asked Questions or contact the Tigers ticket office. https://www.leicestertigers.com/tickets/ season-tickets

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*Lines are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays. If you have a speech or hearing impairment, you can call us using the Relay Service by dialling 18001 followed by 0345 850 8711* Calls may be recorded. To help us continually improve on our service and in the interests of security, we may monitor and/or record your telephone calls with us. Any recordings remain our sole property. Global Payments is HSBC’s preferred supplier for card processing in the UK. Global Payments is a trading name of GPUK LLP. GPUK LLP is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Payment Services Regulations 2017 (504290) for the provision of payment services and under the Consumer Credit Act (714439) for the undertaking of terminal rental agreements. GPUK LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England number OC337146. Registered Office: Granite House, Granite Way, Syston, Leicester LE7 1PL. The members are Global Payments U.K. Limited and Global Payments U.K. 2 Limited. Service of any document relating to the business will be effective if served at the Registered Office.

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LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

T IGE R S TA L K

Dan Cole

“He gives everything for the team on a daily basis” As a Tigers Academy graduate, Dan Cole followed his prop idols into the Tigers team and then established himself as one of the top tightheads in the game for club and country. Last week he made his 250th appearance for his hometown club, with friend and foe alike paying tribute to his continued contribution...

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

T IGE R S TA L K Dan Cole, perhaps second only to legendary former captain Martin Johnson, has mastered the art of less is more when it comes to public statement. But his actions have undoubtedly spoken louder than words in the 13 years since his first outing in Leicester Tigers colours. Coming through junior rugby to earn a place in the Tigers Academy shortly after the club’s European Cup victories, Dan progressed to cement his place as a key part of the first-team and last weekend marked his 250th first-team appearance for the club. It has been quite a spell for player landmarks, with Tom Youngs reaching 200 games and then taking his family total to 600 ahead of Cole’s landmark afternoon a week ago. It is fitting that they should be celebrating - and celebrated - in such close proximity having both come all the way through from the Academy to share so many big occasions as frontrow team-mates. Characteristically, neither Tom nor Dan has courted the spotlight, but it will not have prevented them enjoying their achievements, even if total reflection will only come at some date in the future when their playing days are over. Instead, fellow players and colleagues have done the talking for them. Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick, who was in the opposition line-up when Dan made his club debut and has seen at close-quarters as a coach what he brings to his

work, said: “I think he is a great credit to his family, the family of Leicester Tigers and also the whole community that follows the Tigers. “He gives everything for the team and continues to do so on a daily basis.” Former boss Richard Cockerill once stated that the two most important members of a squad were “the first-choice tighthead and the second-choice tighthead” and Dan has played his part in the club’s front-row legacy, with the likes of Darren Garforth, Julian White and Martin Castrogiovanni among his immediate predecessors in the shirt. They set incredibly high standards to follow and, after spending time on loan at Bedford to build senior rugby experience in the harshest of environments in the front row, Dan came through to, first, understudy those international names and then, nail down his place as first choice. It is a berth he has occupied for more than a decade. After reaching 250 games for the club in such a demanding position - as well as nearly a century of games in Test rugby - Dan knows the magnitude of the feat but still has the job at hand at the front of his mind. “It is something I am extremely proud of, definitely,” he says. “Everybody says the same thing when they reach a number like this, that

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

T IGE R S TA L K CLICK H WATC ERE TO TRIBUTH LTTV DAN CEOS TO LE

you can’t believe it came around as quickly as it did and actually, it really is true. “I’ve been fortunate enough to achieve a lot so far and experienced plenty of downs too, that’s professional sport. You get it all and go through it all with your team-mates. “It is a special week and nice to reminisce in the build-up but, for now, it’s just the next game.” Fellow players queued up to congratulate Coley on his landmark, with tributes coming from England internationals Joe

Marler, Jamie George and Chris Robshaw. They joined Tigers colleagues Ben Youngs, Ellis Genge, George Ford, Tom Croft, Marcos Ayerza, Boris Stankovich, Matt Smith, Mathew Tait and Julian Salvi in raising a glass to Dan on the club website. Tigers chairman Peter Tom, who has seen Dan come through to play at the pinnacle of the game, said: “It is an incredible achievement, playing 250 times for the Tigers, on top of the 95 games for England and three Tests for the Lions.

“To think you started out as someone growing up in Leicester aspiring to play for Tigers - you are everything that epitomises what a true Leicester Tiger is.” The final words, though, belong to Dan, befitting the achievement... “When you look back at it and some of the lovely messages and what it means, it will sink in,” he says. “When your career is done, it can’t be taken away from you, the mates you’ve made and the memories… It is the best job in the world.”

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

T IGE R S TA L K

Dan & Steve Ahead of Dan Cole’s milestone appearance, the prop and his former opponentturned-coach Steve Borthwick recalled debut day. More than 13 years ago, Dan made his opening first-team appearance for the club he grew up watching. It was at The Rec, against Leicester’s long-time rivals Bath, where Cole made appearance number one, fittingly, with the same number on his back. “The World Cup players, who had been in France, were back with the club and they included Marcos Ayerza on the bench as a way to re-introduce him back into the team,” recalls Cole. “I was 20 and, being given a chance to play for Tigers, I wasn’t too worried about the number on my back. It was more of a shock to be picked as I was on loan at Bedford. “I had played age-group games at loosehead so it wasn’t totally foreign to me.” Another returning World Cup star that afternoon was Bath skipper Borthwick. Looking back, he says: “I remember the game, coming back after the World Cup. Tigers

picked a younger team, without most of their players who had been in France, with guys on their way up the ranks at Tigers like Dan, and Ben and Tom Youngs. “I don’t remember much about it, except for the fact this young Leicester pack gave us a real push and, given what Coley has done since, that doesn’t surprise me now.” As for Cole’s recollection of the match, he admits he thought it might be one of only a handful of appearances rather than 14 seasons of averaging almost 20-per-campaign to come. “I remember getting pushed back on our own line at one scrum, then being replaced by Marcos and watching him dominate the Bath pack single-handily,” Cole says with a characteristic smirk. “It was pretty incredible and an eye-opening moment for what senior rugby was about and just how good Marcos was. “Other than the two linebreaks I made from stepping Steve, I remember the occasion more than the game itself. But I don’t think the TV cameras caught them unfortunately, so it might be hard to find them.”

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LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

T O D AY ’ S O P P O S I T I O N

WASPS

1867

1872

FORMED

JOINED RUGBY UNION

1999

2014

NAMED LONDON WASPS

MOVED TO COVENTRY

PREVIOUS HOMES INCLUDE F IN C H L E Y R O A D | R E P T O N AV E N U E | L O F T U S R O A D | A D A M S PA R K

LEAGUE TITLES

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LIMA SOPOAGA

KNOCKOUT CUPS

– 2020-21 –

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KICKING SUCCESS

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MOST POINTS IN LEAGUE GAME 2020-21 BATH 44-52 WASPS

ANGLOWELSH CUP

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP

TOP TRY SCORER

PAOLO ODOGWU

PREMIERSHIP POINTS JIMMY GOPPERTH

1,486

3 0 1 C O N S E C U T I V E G A M E S P L AY E D B Y RONNIE SW YER IN THE 1920-30s

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

SQUAD 2020-21 – BACKS – Pos / Honours / Age / Last Club CAMERON ANDERSON C

LIMA SOPOAGA

20 Academy

CHARLIE ATKINSON FH

Academy

South Africa

Bedford Blues

New Zealand

Stormers

Academy

Leicester

Gloucester

Newcastle Falcons

MARCUS WATSON 28

Toulon

JIMMY GOPPERTH FH

Highlanders

BEN VELLACOTT

MALAKAI FEKITOA C

JACOB UMAGA

JUAN DE JONGH C

New Zealand

SAM SPINK 19

JOSH BASSETT W

SAM WOLSTENHOLME 37

Leinster

Newcastle Falcons

ONE TO WATCH

Yorkshire Carnegie

Zebre

ZACH KIBIRIGE W

MICHAEL LE BOURGEOIS C

MATTEO MINOZZI

30 Bedford Blues

Italy

ROB MILLER FB

Sale Sharks

Worcester

Sale Sharks

Academy

Gloucester

Academy

RYAN MILLS C

PAOLO ODOGWU W

WILL PORTER SH

DAN ROBSON SH

England

WILL SIMONDS C

CALLUM SIRKER W

Enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2018 with his performances in the Six Nations, scoring tries in four successive games on the way to being named in the Team of the Tournament. Able to play at wing or fullback, he joined Wasps a year later.

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

– F OR WA RDS – Pos / Honours / Age / Last Club ONE TO WATCH

BIYI ALO P

Coventry

ALFIE BARBEARY H

THOMAS YOUNG BR

Wales

Gloucester

20 Academy After coming through the Cardiff Blues academy, Thomas moved to Gloucester and then Wasps in 2014 as a specialist openside flanker. His form earned a first call-up to the Wales squad in the 2017 Six Nations and a debut against Tonga later that year. He returned from injury to earn a Test recall in the 2019 Grand Slam season.

KIERAN BROOKES P

England

30 Northampton

TIM CARDALL L

Academy

London Irish

TOM CRUSE H

KIERAN CURRAN BR

20 Academy

LEVI DOUGLAS L

Bath

JAMES GASKELL BR

30 Sale

BEN HARRIS P

Newcastle Falcons

Worthing

Sale Sharks

Nottingham

Academy

JOE LAUNCHBURY L

England

SIMON McINTYRE P

BEN MORRIS BR

GABRIEL OGHRE H

Exeter Chiefs

Wales

Academy

England

Hurricanes

England

Tonga

Saracens

London Scottish

Academy

Stade Francais

THEO VUKASINOVIC L

England

ZURABI ZHVANIA

TOMMY TAYLOR H

30 Hurricanes

TOM WILLIS

BRAD SHIELDS L

New Zealand

JACK WILLIS

WILL ROWLANDS L

SIONE VAILANU

TOM WEST

JACK OWLETT P

JEFFERY TOOMAGA-ALLEN

Sale Sharks

Georgia

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LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

CLUB NEWS SQUAD CHANGES

PREMIERSHIP SEASON The Gallagher Premiership will operate with 13 clubs next season following a moratorium on relegation at the end of 2020-21. The key points of a collaborative agreement across the RFU, Championship and Premiership Rugby are: • Gallagher Premiership Rugby is expanded to 13 teams for the 2021-22 season • No relegation from the Premiership into the Championship, and no relegation from the Championship into National One • Promotion into the Gallagher Premiership remains for the winner of the Championship, provided the winner is eligible for promotion under the current Minimum Standards Criteria • The new structure has unanimous support of the Premiership Rugby clubs Darren Childs, chief executive of Premiership Rugby, said: “The priority for everyone involved has been to protect the long-term sustainability and success of English professional rugby for the fans and clubs who have endured huge financial and sporting challenges throughout the last two seasons. “The progress being made collaboratively with all our key stakeholders across the sport has been fantastic. Our focus remains on continuing to strengthen that alignment through transparency and dialogue around the long-term success of the game at a domestic and national level in England.”

It is that time of year when clubs start to reveal their plans on recruitment and retention for the future and there have been a number of announcements on the Tigers squad in the last couple of weeks. After introducing Julián Montoya from the Jaguares last month, Tigers have welcomed another front-rower this week in the shape of former Scotland Under20s prop Will Hurd following a spell in the development ranks at Glasgow Warriors. Leicester-born Will enjoyed his early rugby with Ashby RFC and played in the Prima Tiger Cup at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. More recently, he experienced club and university rugby with Cardiff Met where he was named in the BUCS Team of the Season. He said: “I know the calibre of players and coaches at Tigers, as well as the experience they have in the game. I am going to learn a lot here.” As Will moved in at Oval Park, Tigers confirmed the departure of fellow forwards Facundo Gigena, who has joined Gallagher Premiership rivals London Irish, and Blake Enever who plans to return to Australia. Jordan Taufua’s move to Lyon in France has been confirmed since our last home game, and Clermont Auvergne have revealed Tomás Lavanini will be joining them in the Top14 next season. The club has also organised moves for some players to gain gametime on loan. Back-rower Sam Lewis is teaming up with Coventry, while Jordan Coghlan will be preparing for the start of the delayed Championship season with Nottingham alongside Tigers development squad wing Joe Browning, prop Osman Dimen and back row Emeka Ilione.

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

THE BIG MATCH Tigers welcome neighbours Wasps in more Gallagher Premiership action...

Wasps test their impressive away form with the short trip along the M69 this afternoon, with just one defeat on the road in the past 12 months ahead of their trip to Mattioli Woods Welford Road. The visitors bounced back from successive defeats to beat Worcester Warriors last Sunday, while Tigers were beaten at Harlequins despite scoring three tries. Both teams are without their England players who are in camp during the fallow weekend in the Six Nations, while Wasps have international forwards Joe Launchbury and Jack Willis ruled out by injury. Tigers have lost just once at home since early December and the last eight Premiership fixtures between the clubs have all been won by the home side on the day. Wasps’ only victory at Mattioli Woods Welford Road since 2008 was in September 2016. Overall the two sides have met on 106 previous occasions, with Leicester winning 62 to 39 and five games drawn. Today is the 49th meeting at this stadium where the Tigers’ record is won 40, lost eight. Match referee Craig Maxwell-Keys in charge for the 87th time in the top flight.

FROM BOTH SIDES In seven years with Wasps, Ayoola Erinle clocked up more than 100 games, three league titles and a Heineken Cup Final appearance before moving to Tigers in 2007. A strong runner at centre, he lined up against Wasps in the Premiership Final in his first season and started the win over London Irish a year later. He also started the 2009 European Cup Final against Leinster. He moved to Biarritz, won two England caps and also served Nottingham and Carcassonne before retirement.

LAST FIVE PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS 2019-20

2019-20

2018-19

2017-18

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

ELSEWHERE IN ROUND 10 Bath Rugby v Gloucester Rugby A West Country derby at The Rec kicked off the weekend on Friday evening with Bath looking to back up their 27-22 victory at Sale last weekend - their first win in 2021. Bath’s most recent victory at home was against Gloucester in Round 21 last season. Gloucester have won just once in the league since September, 40-24 at home to Wasps in Round 2, but they have taken bonus points in each of their last three defeats as well as one try bonus. Each club won its respective home game when the sides met last season, while Gloucester’s most recent victory at The Rec was in October 2017.

Harlequins v Sale Sharks Harlequins have won their last three games since a draw with London Irish in January. The Londoners beat Leicester at Twickenham Stoop last Saturday and have not won successive fixtures at the venue since August. Sale Sharks’ winning run ended at four games with defeat at home to GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP TABLE

Bath last Friday. They have lost only once away from home in Premiership Rugby since August. The last 10 meetings of the clubs in league rugby have all been won by the home side on the day, with Sale chasing a first league victory at The Stoop since November 2014.

Falcons camp earlier this week. In consultation with Public Health England and the Professional Rugby Testing Oversight Group, the match has been cancelled and Newcastle training halted. A panel will now be convened to determine the allocation of points. It is Newcastle’s second successive cancellation.

Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints Chiefs have won three in a row since home defeat by Bristol on January 9, one of only two losses at Sandy Park in any competition in the last 12 months. Northampton are unbeaten away in 2021, with wins at Gloucester and Wasps in Rounds 7 and 8. Exeter have lost just once in the last 10 meetings with Saints in all competitions, while Northampton have not won at Sandy Park since a 17-16 victory in Premiership Rugby in February 2014.

London Irish v Bristol Bears London Irish were unbeaten in three matches before a 26-3 defeat at Exeter last Saturday. They have won their last two games at their new stadium and have not won three in succession at home since they were at Madejski Stadium in February 2016. Bristol Bears have lost just once since the opening round - at home to Sale on February 5 - and have not lost away from home since a trip to Wasps in November. The last three meetings in Premiership Rugby have been evenly split, with a win apiece plus a draw.

Newcastle Falcons v Worcester Warriors Today’s scheduled fixture was called off after Covid positive tests in the Pld

Pts

Bristol Bears

223

136

Exeter Chiefs

210

122

Sale Sharks

198

164

Harlequins

246

196

Northampton Saints

151

152

Wasps

227

243

Newcastle Falcons

131

127

London Irish

138

142

Leicester Tigers

176

189

Bath Rugby

168

262

Worcester Warriors

118

201

Gloucester Rugby

197

249

Proud to support Leicester Tigers

360°

D Pos

FORD

ENEVER

DIAZ BONILLA

DE BRUIN

DEFENCE

Result

COLE

COGHLAN

ATTACK Att

CLARE

Opponents

CHESSUM

BRINK

Date Comp

BOWER

SEASON STATS 2020-21

ASPLAND-ROBINSON

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

NOVEMBER 2020 Sat 21

GPR

Gloucester Rugby

22-08

● 38-15

Sun 29

GPR

London Irish (Sun 4.15)

03-13

● 09-22

5 6

DECEMBER 2020 Sat 5

GPR

Exeter Chiefs

08-22

● 13-35

Fri 11

ECC

Brive (Fri 7:45)

14-06

● 39-17

Sat 19

ECC

Bayonne (8pm)

17-13

● 28-20

Sat 26

GPR

Newcastle Falcons (2pm)

C-C

JANUARY 2021 Sun 3

GPR

Bath Rugby (Sun 3pm)

14-06

● 36-31

Sat 9

GPR

Northampton Saints (4.30pm)

C-C

Fri 15

ECC

Bayonne (7:45pm)

C-C

W/O 22

ECC

Brive

C-C

Fri 29

GPR

Sale Sharks (7:45pm)

08-10

● 15-25

FEBRUARY 2021 Sat 6

GPR

Worcester Warriors

13-03

● 36-31

Sat 13

GPR

Harlequins (4.00pm)

17-30

● 24-37

Sat 20

GPR

Wasps

Sat 27

GPR

Bristol Bears

TOTAL

25 20 26 0 24 20 22 0

MARCH 2021 Fri 5

GPR

London Irish (7:45pm)

Sat 13

GPR

Gloucester Rugby

Sat 20

GPR

Exeter Chiefs

Sun 28

GPR

Newcastle Falcons

APRIL 2021 W/O 2

ECC

W/O 9

ECC

Round of 16

W/O 16

GPR

Bath Rugby

W/O 23

GPR

Northampton Saints

W/O 30

ECC

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

May 2021 W/O 7

GPR

Sale Sharks

W/O 14

GPR

Harlequins

Fri 21

ECC

W/O 28

GPR

Worcester Warriors

Final at Marseille

JUNE 2021 W/O 4

GPR

Bristol Bears

W/O 12

GPR

Wasps

W/O 18

GPR

Semi-finals

Sat 26

GPR

Final at Twickenham GPR ECC PRC

Gallagher Premiership Rugby European Challenge Cup Premiership Rugby Cup

1 5

Started match 16 5

Used as a replacement

0 5

Bench (not used)

5 10

Points scored in a match

3 5 5

5 5 5

PENALTY TRY

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

T.YOUNGS

B.YOUNGS

WORTH

WILLIAMS

WIGGLESWORTH

WHITE

WEISE

WELLS

WALLACE

VAN WYK

VAN POORTVLIET

TAUTE

TAUFUA

STEWARD

SMITH

SIMMONS

SCOTT

REFFELL

POTTER

PORTER

OLOWOFELA

NADOLO

MURIMURIVALU

MORONI

MONTOYA

MARTIN

MAMUKASHVILI

McPHILLIPS

MONTOYA

LIEBENBERG

LEWIS

LEATIGAGA

LAVANINI

KERR

KELLY

HEYES

HENRY

HENDERSON

HARDWICK

GREEN

GIGENA

GENGE

FORD

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

PLAYER STATS 2020-21

NAME Sam ASPLAND-ROBINSON Ryan BOWER Cyle BRINK Ollie CHESSUM Charlie CLARE Jordan COGHLAN Dan COLE Luan DE BRUIN Joaquín DÍAZ BONILLA Blake ENEVER George FORD Ellis GENGE Facundo GIGENA Calum GREEN Tom HARDWICK Cameron HENDERSON Zack HENRY Joe HEYES Dan KELLY Jake KERR Tomás LAVANINI Henri LAVIN Jonny LAW Nephi LEATIGAGA Sam LEWIS Hanro LIEBENBERG Shalva MAMUKASHVILI Johnny MCPHILLIPS

APPS 1+2 4+4 1 1+5 6+2 3+1 1+3 0+1 1+1 1+1 1 7+1 1+1 7 3+6 1+2 0+1 4+1 3+5 8 0+3

STATS 2020-21 TRIES 2 1 1 1 1 -

PTS 10 5 20 31 5 5 65 5 2

APPS 8+6 4+9 4+4 4 5+14 7+4 192+58 3+1 1+3 4+2 82+16 59+20 16+29 39+10 16+16 3+4 12+3 22+34 3+3 15+30 21+3 0+1 0+2 7+29 10+11 21+2 0+1 2+8

TIGERS TOTAL TRIES 2 2 1 3 8 7 1 1 3 1 2 1 2 1 1

PTS 10 10 5 15 20 931 35 5 5 121 15 96 5 10 5 10 5 22

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

NAME George MARTIN Julián MONTOYA Matias MORONI Kini MURIMURIVALU Nemani NADOLO Jordan OLOWOFELA Guy PORTER Harry POTTER Tommy REFFELL Matt SCOTT Harry SIMMONS Thom SMITH Freddie STEWARD Jordan TAUFUA Jaco TAUTE Jack VAN POORTVLIET Kobus VAN WYK Luke WALLACE Harry WELLS James WHITCOMBE Ben WHITE Jasper WIESE Richard WIGGLESWORTH David WILLIAMS George WORTH Ben YOUNGS Tom YOUNGS

APPS 2+1 2+1 4 3+2 4 3+2 2 3+3 7 2 8 2+2 6 1+4 5 0+2 6+3 0+1 2+4 7 5 1+1 6+2

STATS 2020-21 TRIES 1 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 3

PTS 5 10 5 10 10 5 5 5 5 10 5 5 15

APPS 4+3 2+1 4 6+2 9 30+11 7+3 7+1 20+14 13 10+14 5+5 16+4 11+7 16+2 4+6 6 5+5 56+52 0+1 27+41 7 5 3+1 41+21 203+51 160+42

TIGERS TOTAL TRIES 1 2 1 4 6 2 5 1 2 3 3 1 1 1 4 6 2 1 1 3 38 21

PTS 5 10 5 20 30 10 25 5 10 18 15 5 5 5 20 30 10 5 5 25 210 105

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LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

– MATCHFILE – LEICESTER TIGERS 41-24 WORCESTER WARRIORS Saturday February 6 2021 / Gallagher Premiership Round 8 Attendance: Closed doors / Referee: Mr Andrew Jackson LEICESTER TIGERS 15 Freddie Steward 14 Kobus van Wyk 13 Matiás Moroni 12 Matt Scott 11 Nemani Nadolo 10 Zack Henry 5C / 2P 9 Richard Wigglesworth (c)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Luan de Bruin Julián Montoya Dan Cole Tomás Lavanini Calum Green Hanro Liebenberg Cyle Brink Jasper Wiese

Tries from Julián Montoya (2), Jasper Wiese (2) and Tom Youngs gave Tigers a bonuspoint victory over Worcester Warriors at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. A first try for the club from Montoya, steering a dominant forward drive over the line from a lineout, combined with the kicking of Zack Henry to provide a 13-3 advantage at half-time against a Warriors team who had enjoyed wins on three of their last four trips to Leicester. The Argentinian hooker added a second score in similar style just after former Tigers lock Graham Kitchener had been yellow-carded in defence and then Wiese stretched the lead with a finish following a number of impressive phases in attack. After prop Richard Palframan supplied a response with a close-range score, Tom Youngs came off the bench to add his third try of the season from another maul. The score was 34-17 after an interception try from Oli Morris but Wiese barged over for his second of the day and Perry Humphreys dotted down out wide for the visitors and the final points of the afternoon.

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Tom Youngs Nephi Leatigaga Joe Heyes Harry Wells George Martin Jack van Poortvliet Johnny McPhillips Kini Murimurivalu

NOTEBOOK… Appearance by Tom Youngs makes a total of 600 for the club by him, his brother Ben and dad Nick… First tries for Julián Montoya and Jasper Wiese… Richard Wigglesworth’s first game as captain… Chris Pennell’s 250th game for Warriors… Three players away with England.

WORCESTER: Pennell, David, Morris, Beck, Humphreys, Weir, Simpson; Thomas, Annett, Schonert, Bresler, G Kitchener, Mama, Kvesic (c), Du Preez. Reps: Cutting, Waller, Palframan, Clegg, Hill, Lewis, Heaney, Shillcock

QUOTE... “Winning is always better than losing but we could have done better, we want to keep pressure on other teams.” Jasper Wiese

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

– LAST TIME OUT – HARLEQUINS 37-24 LEICESTER TIGERS Saturday February 13 2021 / Gallagher Premiership Round 9 Attendance: Closed doors / Referee: Mr Andrew Woodthorpe LEICESTER TIGERS 15 Freddie Steward 14 Matiás Moroni 13 Jaco Taute (c) 12 Matt Scott 11 Kini Murimurivalu 10 Zack Henry 3C / P 9 Jack Van Poortvliet

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Luan de Bruin Julián Montoya Joe Heyes Calum Green Tomás Lavanini George Martin Cyle Brink Hanro Liebenberg

Tries conceded in the fiveminute spell either side of half-time proved costly in defeat by Harlequins at a bitterly cold Twickenham Stoop last weekend. An early score from Cyle Brink put Tigers in front and Jack Van Poortvliet showed his eye for an opportunity with his first senior try with a break from a ruck. But Quins claimed three of their own through Mike Brown, Marcus Smith and then Andre Esterhuizen - the South African centre scoring in the final play of the half - to lead 30-17 at the break. In fine form after away victories over Wasps and Bath in recent weeks, Quins added a fourth try just moments into the second half as Louis Lynagh finished on the right to take the lead out to 20 points. But Tigers stayed in the fight as George Martin claimed his first try, latching on to a Jaco Taute offload. After sharing 61 points in the opening 47 minutes, the teams could add no further scores, though Tigers were frustrated when a lineout drive with the clock on zero fell just short with the ball trapped under bodies.

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Tom Youngs Nephi Leatigaga Dan Cole Harry Wells Tommy Reffell Ben White Johnny McPhillips Dan Kelly

NOTEBOOK… Dan Cole’s 250th first-team appearance for the club - giving the prop more games for Tigers than the starting XV combined… First tries for Jack Van Poortvliet and George Martin, plus a first in the Premiership for Cyle Brink … Joe Marler’s 150th Premiership game… Three players with England at Twickenham on the same afternoon.

HARLEQUINS: Brown, Lynagh, Marchant, Esterhuizen, Morris, Smith, Care; Marler, Baldwin, Kerrod, Symons, Lewies (c), White, Evans, Dombrandt. Reps: Elia, Els, Louw, Young, De Carpentier, Landajo, Herron, Tapuai

QUOTE... “We started really well, we played in the right parts of the field, but then our own errors and discipline let us down and gave them field position to put points on the board.” Jaco Taute

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LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

Andrea Pinchen

FROM THE BOARDROOM Tigers chief executive officer Andrea Pinchen explores what it has been like to join and work at the club during the pandemic so far. In what has been a truly testing year for the club, we have been able to make steps forward on and off the pitch. One area that has bucked the trend has been through our club partners and player sponsors who have continued to show their support over the last 12 months and into the future. I asked our head of business development Mark Davies, as someone who only joined the business less than a year ago, to share his experiences: “First, I want to say what a privilege and honour it is to be part of this fantastic sporting organisation. While I still feel like a newbie (a global pandemic will do that to you), I’ve actually been here over 10 months. And, like Steve Borthwick and his team, I hope you have been encouraged by what is happening off the field as well as on it. “Joining a new organisation during a pandemic throws up its own unique set of circumstances - a complete rugby shutdown prior to beginning, navigating furlough and new government guidelines within hours of starting in the role, through to being unable to spend any quality time with your new colleagues (there are still some I haven’t even met in person yet). “That being said, an organisation is only as good

as its people and I think we are blessed here at the Club, be it the staff, the sponsors and you, the supporters. “The number of new partners we have welcomed into the Club during the pandemic is

“Our targets are equally as ambitious as Steve’s. We want to be the best - an ambition that spreads beyond rugby but to sport as a whole, whether it means experiences for supporters, effectiveness for

Thanks to our club partners over the last 12 months

testament to this, along with an encouraging number of fans continuing to support the Club this season, and now next. It is this springboard that coming out of the ‘Covid-19 era’ will provide us with an enviable head start over our rivals.

partners or creating a highperformance environment for staff to flourish in. “When we get that right, it’ll give us the best chance of bringing all the silverware back to Mattioli Woods Welford Road, where it belongs.”

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

CLUB PARTNERS

Welcome and thank you to all of our partners for the 2020-21 season...

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LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

OFFICIAL PAR TNERS

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LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

THE

TIGERS TEAM T H E M A N AG E M E N T T E A M

STEVE BORTHWICK Position: Head Coach

ALED WALTERS Position: Head of Physical Performance

BRETT DEACON Position: Assistant Coach

SIMON BARBOUR Position: Head of Analysis

TERESA CARRINGTON Position: Team Manager

MIKE FORD Position: Assistant Coach

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

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

SAM ASPLAND-ROBINSON

RYAN BOWER

CYLE BRINK

CHARLIE CLARE

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:

1.83m/6ft 0in

Height:

1.86m /6ft 1in

Height:

1.91m/6ft 3in

Height:

1.83m/6ft 0in

Weight:

94kg/14st 8lb

Weight:

108kg/17st 2lb

Weight:

114kg/18st 5lb

Weight:

110 kg/17st 4lb

ACADEMY GRADUATE

S P O N S O R E D BY:

JORDAN COGHLAN

DAN COLE

LUAN DE BRUIN

JOAQUIN DIAZ BONILLA

Back row

Position: Prop

Position: Fly-half

Born: 30/10/92

Position:

Born: 09/05/87

Born:

13/12/93

Born: 02/04/89

Height:

1.95m/6ft 4in

Height:

1.91m/6ft 3in

Height:

1.83m/6ft 0in

Height: 1.78m/5ft10in

Weight:

113kg/17st 11lb

Weight:

123kg/19st 5lb

Weight:

125kg/19st 11lb

Honours: England/Lions

Weight:

80kg/12st 8lb

Honours: Argentina

ACADEMY GRADUATE S P O N S O R E D BY:

S P O N S O R E D BY:

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

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

GEORGE FORD

ELLIS GENGE

CALUM GREEN

TOM HARDWICK

Position: Fly-half

Position: Prop

Position: Lock

Position: Fly-half/Centre

Born: 16/03/93

Born: 16/02/95

Born: 15/07/90

Born: 24/03/99

Height:

1.78m/5ft 10in

Height:

1.86m/6ft 1in

Height:

1.93m/6ft 4in

Height:

1.75m/5ft 9in

Weight:

86kg/13st 7lb

Weight:

117kg/18st 6lb

Weight:

119kg/18st 12lb

Weight:

94kg/14st 13lb

Honours: England

Honours: England ACADEMY GRADUATE

ACADEMY GRADUATE

S P O N S O R E D BY:

ZACK HENRY

JOE HEYES

WILL HURD

JAKE KERR

Position: Fly-half

Position: Prop

Position: Hooker

Born: 01/10/94

Born: 13/04/99

Born: 29/06/99

Born: 13/04/96

Height:

1.83m/6ft 0in

Height:

1.93m/6ft 4in

Height:

1.86m/6ft 1in

Height:

1.85m/6ft 1in

Weight:

89kg/14st 0lb

Weight:

126kg/19st 12lb

Weight:

121kg/19st 1lb

Weight:

105kg/16st 7lb

Honours: Scotland ACADEMY GRADUATE

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

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

TOMAS LAVANINI

NEPHI LEATIGAGA

SAM LEWIS

HANRO LIEBENBERG

Position: Lock

Position: Prop

Position: Lock/Flanker

Position:

Born: 22/01/93

Born: 09/12/93

Born: 27/04/98

Born: 10/10/95

Back row

Height:

2.01m/6ft 7in

Height:

1.93m/6ft 4in

Height:

1.95m/6ft 5in

Height:

1.97m/6ft 5 in

Weight:

130kg/20st 7lb

Weight:

149kg/23st 6lb

Weight:

110kg/17st 4lb

Weight:

110kg/17st 4lb

Honours: Argentina

Honours: Samoa ACADEMY GRADUATE S P O N S O R E D BY:

SHALVA MAMUKASHVILI

JOHNNY McPHILLIPS

JULIÁN MONTOYA

MATIAS MORONI

Position: Hooker

Position: Fly-half/Centre/Full-back

Position: Hooker

Position: Centre/Wing

Born: 02/10/90

Born: 13/03/97

Born: 29/10/93

Born: 10/07/91

Height:

1.80m/5ft 11in

Height:

1.80m/5ft 11in

Height:

1.83m/6ft 0in

Height:

1.83m/6ft 0in

Weight:

101kg/16st 9lb

Weight:

89kg/14st 0lb

Weight:

113kg/17st 11lb

Weight:

83kg/13st 5lb

Honours: Georgia

Honours: Argentina

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

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

KINI MURIMURIVALU

NEMANI NADOLO

JORDAN OLOWOFELA

GUY PORTER

Position: Full-back/Wing

Position: Wing/centre

Position: Wing/full-back

Position: Centre/Wing

Born: 15/05/89

Born: 31/01/88

Born: 17/04/98

Born: 23/01/97

Height:

1.75m/5ft 9in

Height:

1.96m/6ft 5in

Height:

1.88m / 6ft 2in

Height:

1.85m/6ft 1lb

Weight:

83kg/13st 5lb

Weight:

120kg/19st 5lb

Weight:

92kg / 14st 7lb

Weight:

95kg/15st 1lb

Honours: Fiji

Honours: Fiji ACADEMY GRADUATE S P O N S O R E D BY:

S P O N S O R E D BY:

HARRY POTTER

TOMMY REFFELL

MATT SCOTT

HARRY SIMMONS

Position: Wing

Position: Flanker

Position: Centre

Position: Scrum-half

Born: 15/12/97

Born: 27/04/99

Born: 30/09/90

Born: 25/11/97

Height:

1.85m/6ft 1in

Height:

1.84m / 6ft 0in

Height:

1.85m/6ft 1in

Height:

1.81m/5ft 11in

Weight:

89kg/14st 13lb

Weight:

103kg / 16st 3lb

Weight:

101kg/15st 12lb

Weight:

90kg/14st 2lb

Honours: Scotland ACADEMY GRADUATE

ACADEMY GRADUATE S P O N S O R E D BY:

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

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

JACO TAUTE

KOBUS VAN WYK

LUKE WALLACE

HARRY WELLS

Position: Centre/Full-back

Position: Wing

Position: Flanker

Position: Lock

Born: 21/03/91

Born: 22/01/92

Born: 02/10/90

Born: 29/09/93

Height:

1.91m/6ft 3 in

Height:

1.91m/6ft 3in

Height:

1.83m/6ft 0in

Height:

1.96m/6ft 5in

Weight:

108kg/17st 0lb

Weight:

98kg/15st 6lb

Weight:

100kg/15st 11lb

Weight:

110kg/17st 5lb

Honours:

South Africa ACADEMY GRADUATE S P O N S O R E D BY:

BEN WHITE

JASPER WIESE

RICHARD WIGGLESWORTH

GEORGE WORTH

Position: Scrum-half

Position:

Back row

Position: Scrum-half

Position: Centre/Full-back

Born: 27/05/98

Born: 21/10/95

Born: 09/06/83

Born: 08/10/96

Height:

1.81m/5ft 11in

Height:

1.91m/6ft 3ins

Height:

1.75m/5ft 9in

Height:

1.86m/6ft 1in

Weight:

87kg/13st 11lb

Weight:

116kg/18st 5lb

Weight:

83kg/13st 1lb

Weight:

95kg/14st 13lb

Honours: England ACADEMY GRADUATE S P O N S O R E D BY:

ACADEMY GRADUATE S P O N S O R E D BY:

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

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

BEN YOUNGS

TOM 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

S P O N S O R E D BY:

To sponsor a player or to receive more information on sponsoring a player please email Sales@tigers.co.uk

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

D E V E L O P M E N T S Q U A D

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

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

OLLIE CHESSUM Position: Back row Born: 06/09/00

OSMAN DIMEN Position: Prop Born: 30/09/98

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

CAMERON HENDERSON Position: Lock Born: 13/01/00

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

DAN KELLY Position: Centre Born: 16/01/01

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

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

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

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

JACK ROWNTREE Position: Prop Born: 06/05/02 ACADEMY GRADUATE

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

THOM SMITH Position: Back row Born: 02/12/1999 ACADEMY GRADUATE

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

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

ARCHIE VANES Position: Hooker Born: 16/09/01 ACADEMY GRADUATE

JAMES WHITCOMBE Position: Prop Born: 20/11/00 ACADEMY GRADUATE

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

LEICESTER TIGERS

FOUNDATION NEWS

With more than 500 members of the #TigersFamily now participating in the Leicester Tigers Foundation Around the World Challenge, we have almost completed a lap of the globe. But the work is not over yet and we’d love it if you could join in. The Challenge has been launched to support fitness and well-being at Tigers and our Global Partners Clubs across the world, while also trying to support the Tigers Foundation’s work which has been affected by the Covid pandemic and limited our fund-raising opportunities during the last 12 months. Anyone can contribute to the total with their own exercise in a race with Global Partnership Clubs from KL Tigers, RC Diok, Bangkok Lions, Rugby Colorno, Dendermonde RFC and Delhi Hurricanes to find the fastest to lap the world.

If you can make a donation or raise some sponsorship to aid the Foundation, that would be even better. The Earth’s equatorial circumference is: • 24,901 miles • 40,075.017 kilometres • 40,075,017 metres Participants have so far covered a total of nearly 22,000 miles which is a brilliant effort, but there is a long way to go, especially as we want to raise as much money as possible in the process to help with Foundation delivery of education and inclusion programmes within our community. Whether you walk, run, cycle, row or can measure the distance covered in any other exercise, however great or small, however quickly or steadily, you can join the Tigers team and hopefully help the Foundation in its work too. You can also count the distance covered in sessions with Fit Fans published on the Tigers website each Thursday. Here is the current distance: KL Tigers

13,623 miles

Leicester Tigers Foundation

2,839 miles

Bangkok Lions

2,252 miles

Dendermonde RFC

2,135 miles

Delhi Hurricanes

740 miles

RC DIOK

254 miles

If any further motivation was needed, everyone who makes a contribution to the Foundation of £10 or more will be entered into a draw to win a Tigers shirt. Each club has its own Strava link (search for the Leicester Tigers Foundation club page) to add your mileage and the first club who completes the mileage will be crowned the Around The World champion. Check the link at www.leicestertigers.com/ community/foundation to find your logsheet, the Just Giving link and more information on the Foundation and the Challenge.

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LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

LEICESTER TIGERS

FOUNDATION NEWS

On the back of a challenging 12 months, we are very excited to announce that the Leicester Tigers Foundation is relaunching the HITZ programme across Leicestershire. In 2019 SCL education and training expanded their partnership with Premiership Rugby to become the exclusive education partner for the award-winning employability programme known as HITZ. Managing all educational aspects of the Premiership Rugby HITZ programme, SCL are a leading provider of education through sport with more than 15 years of experience in delivering a range of forward-thinking and successful education and sports development programmes for young people. HITZ is Premiership Rugby’s award-winning education and employability programme which

works with more than 2,000 young people in the 14-18 agegroup across England every year. The programme uses rugby’s core values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship to get young people back in education, employment or training. Participants in the HITZ programme regularly report an increase of resilience, selfconfidence and aspiration as a result of their involvement and more than 70 per cent go on to achieve a positive progression into further education, employment or training. The Tigers Foundation’s core offer of a 15-week traineeship starting on March 8 offers a relaxed environment targeted at 16-18-year-olds to improve their functional skills in maths and English, gain accredited qualifications alongside valuable

work experience and develop life skills from work placements and employer-led sessions. Working towards qualifications and meaningful work experience, our students are given unique opportunities to develop themselves to a point where they are ready to gain employment or return to further education. While continually improving their physical and mental health through sports, workshops and exercise, our students develop all of the skills, knowledge and experience they need to go on to the next steps in life. If you, or someone you know, is looking to improve their lives, please get in touch to find out more information. Contact the Tigers Foundation HITZ officer, Anthony O’Reilly, for more details by emailing anthony.oreilly@tigers.co.uk

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LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

Matchday mascot

Supported by

Supported by retailers NEXT, the Junior Tigers Club is THE place for young fans to celebrate their support of Leicester Tigers. Junior Membership is available now.

A big Junior Tigers welcome to Sapphire-Mae McCartney, who is our virtual matchday mascot this afternoon. Thank you for your support of the team - we hope you enjoy following all of the action. Do you want to be in with the chance of being our next virtual mascot? Buy a Junior Tigers Club membership for £35 and you will be entered into the draw for each home fixture. Membership benefits also include a bobble hat and goodie bag!

5 to Tackle

Place-kick

1. Which team did England beat in the Six Nations last weekend?

Who is this Tigers goal-kicker?

2. Can you name the two Scotland internationals in the Tigers squad? 3. What colour shirts do Wasps wear in home games? 4. Who captained Tigers at Harlequins last week? 5. How many Tigers games has Dan Cole played before today?

Did you know? Kini Murimurivalu has played in three Rugby World Cups with Fiji - in 2011, 2015 and 2019. Answers: Place-kick: Zack Henry; Five to tackle: 1 Italy, 2 Matt Scott & Jake Kerr, 3 Black, 4 Jaco Taute, 5 250.

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

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LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

Matt Hampson

FOUNDATION Update from one of the club’s official charities...

Usually at this time of year we’d be busy planning our Six Nations Dinner, which is the pinnacle of our calendar of events and raises valuable funds for the Matt Hampson Foundation. However, while we have to wait a little longer for our next glittering event due to the impact of the pandemic, we’ve launched a luxury raffle offering the chance to win some incredible prizes while raising some much-needed funds to help us continue to support our beneficiaries. Hambo’s Raffle will run until the end of the Six Nations tournament and prizes include: • £2,000 of Furniture Village vouchers. Kindly donated by Furniture Village. • A diamond necklace and earrings set worth £1,800 from luxury jeweller

• •

Odendaal Diamonds. Kindly donated by Odendaal Diamonds. Two tickets to an exclusive BBQ and drinks event with Matt Hampson and Mike Tindall at the Get Busy Living Centre. A family weekend camping ticket for this year’s Festival of Sport attended by sporting legends such as Will Greenwood and Andrew Strauss. Kindly donated by Legends Holidays & Events. A squad signed England rugby shirt. A bottle of Hampson’s gin.

Raffle tickets are available online at justgiving.com/campaign/hamboraffle. Get yours now before they’re gone!

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

Tigers History

FEB

ON THIS DAY 1886

Rugby were beaten 1-0 in what would become the final home game of the season at Victoria Park when the scheduled fixture in March against Leicester Past XV was called off due to frost. 1892

A crowd of 2,000 saw Handsworth beaten 2-0 in the final season at Belgrave Cricket and Cycle Ground. 1897

Eddie Redman scored two tries in a 17-3 win over Guy’s Hospital at Welford Road. Jacky Brathwaite, Archie Field and Paddy Swain were the other scorers.

1954

Geoffrey Lee (2) and Harry Sibson were the scorers in a 12-3 victory over Middlesex Hospital.

2010

Keith Chilton kicked three penalties in a 9-12 defeat at Wasps. 1968

1971

Ralph Buckingham scored the only try in an 8-3 win over Cardiff in front of a 10,000 Welford Road crowd.

1993

1965

1909

1926

Dave Manship made his debut and Brian Hall claimed a try in a 4-12 defeat at Orrell. Steve Hackney scored four tries in a 61-18 win at Nuneaton, with Peter Sandford claiming a hat-trick. The win could have been even bigger as John Liley converted just three of the 11 tries.

Alf Hind scored a hat-trick in a 28-5 win over Castleford, with Jack Miles and Norman Sutton adding two each. Tigers were beaten 9-5 at Newport despite a score from Kenneth Wood. Leicester-born Wood was part of the British Isles squad in South Africa a year later and played in two Tests but was never capped by England. He made his Tigers debut in 1906 and played on until 1919.

1982

A penalty from full-back Mike Gavins during a season in which he broke his own post-war scoring record was enough to give Tigers a 3-0 win away to Wasps.

1960

Roy Sleigh was among the scorers in a 14-8 midweek win at Moseley. He’d also scored twice in a win at Wasps three days previously and was on the mark again in a derby win over Northampton the following Saturday.

1904

John Duggan, on his way to 17 tries in his first full season, claimed a hat-trick in a 17-3 defeat of Wasps. 1973

Moseley claimed a 14-9 midweek win at Welford Road, with John Ingleby kicking two penalties for Tigers and wing Cliff Hiliker, making the last of two first-team appearances, adding his only points for the club with a drop goal. A rematch on the same date a year later was called off due to the power strike.

Lote Tuqiri scored his third and final Tigers try in a 33-11 win over Gloucester to retain top spot in the Guinness Premiership. Geordan Murphy and Ben Youngs added the other scores and Toby Flood landed seven kicks in front of a 22,000 crowd.

Tigers v Wasps_Layout 1 05/02/2021 15:42 Page 1

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LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

Dan Cole not only reached the 250 milestone in the colours of the Tigers last week, but he also took another step towards the top three in the club’s list of all-time appearancemakers in Premiership rugby. An appearance against Wasps this afternoon would take Dan level with back-rower Martin Corry, captain when Cole first broke through in senior rugby, in third place in that list with 181 games. Cole has already overtaken the marks set by fellow England internationals Louis Deacon and Ben Kay this season and is a handful of appearances ahead

of Ben Youngs, having both made their senior club debuts back in 2007. There is still some way to go, though, to catch the top two of Geordan Murphy and George Chuter. Murphy is the only man with more than 200 Premiership games to his name as a Tiger, retiring on 205 as an eight-time title winner. His 74 games in Europe is also a club record. Cole, incidentally, has played 56 times in the Heineken Cup and four in the Challenge Cup. Chuter was the first man to hit 200 Premiership appearances in a career which started with

Martin Corry is next in Cole’s sights

Stat Pack SOME OF THE FACTS AND FIGURES BEHIND THE HEADLINES...

Saracens before his switch to Tigers and he ended with 262 top-flight games. That mark was passed first by Steve Borthwick (who finished on 265 in spells with Bath and Saracens) and then Richard Wigglesworth who heads into this weekend just seven short of a remarkable triplecentury with Sale Sharks, Sarries and now Tigers. Previously, popular prop Darren Garforth was the first man to play 200 games in England’s top flight, straddling the Courage League era before professionalism and the subsequent formation of Premiership Rugby.

PREMIERSHIP GAMES FOR TIGERS

Cole passed Louis Deacon this season

205 ��GEORDAN MURPHY 194 ��GEORGE CHUTER 181 �� MARTIN CORRY 180 ��DAN COLE 177 ��LOUIS DEACON 177 �� BEN KAY 177 �� BEN YOUNGS 169 ��MARCOS AYERZA 155 �� LEON LLOYD 154 �� JORDAN CRANE 153 �� MATT SMITH 146 ��TOM YOUNGS *up to and including February 13, 2021.

JH_Tigers Programme_Ad_Layout 1 17/08/2015 14:27 Page

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An unmissable lineup on BT Sport

LEICESTER TIGERS v WASPS

FanZone You Were Saying…

LEICESTER TIGERs

“I had the privilege of captaining Bath in Dan Cole’s first game for Leicester Tigers. I’ve had the great pleasure of coaching him, and the displeasure of playing against him, if that is the term you would use”

VERSUS

WASPS

G A L L AG H E R P R E M I E R S H I P SAT U R DAY, F E B R UA R Y 2 0, 2 0 2 1 K I C K- O F F 3.0 0 P M

Steve Borthwick on Dan Cole’s career

PROGRAMME CREDITS

“Turning 34 next month, Dan Cole is coming up to his prime as a tighthead prop”

Cover star: Kini Murimurivalu Editorial: Gary Sherrard, Phil Warrington & 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

Rupert Cox, BT Sport commentator “I’ve not got to experience much of it yet, being in lockdown since I got here, but I’ll have something to look forward to” Cyle Brink, on settling into life in Leicester

BIRTHDAY WISHES

Happy birthday to our season ticket holders celebrating today... • John Anderson • Chris Bird • Lynn Bowman • Allan Cole • Karen Covey • John Davison • Adam Edwards • Jason Evans

• Claire Goldsworthy • Steven Gould • David Griffin • Mark Grigg • David Hall • Alan Hardwicke • Ian Hirst • John Hutchinson

• Richard Jasinski • Samuel Krzeminski • Graham Lambert • Susan McFarlane • Christine Minter • Leon Price • Mary Smith • Julian Swain

• Jack Thomas • David Thompson • David Upton • David Westwater • Karen Whittle

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