Leicester Tigers
June 13 2001
Club Details
Welford Road
Leicester
LE2 7TR
Stadium Capacity: 16,000 (11,600 seated)
Website: www.leicestertigers.com
Founded: 1880
- 2007/8 Season Preview -
Last time around: Leicester, for the second consecutive year, finished the season on a sour note. After securing both the Guinness Premiership and Anglo-Welsh Cup, and playing some frighteningly dynamic rugby in the process, the Tigers slipped on the final stage with a 25-9 loss to Wasps in the Heineken Cup. This, without doubt, brought back the painful Twickenham memories of the domestic 45-20 loss to Sale the previous year. However, two trophies out of three must be viewed as an outstanding success!
This time? After a fitting final season at the helm, coach Pat Howard's departure to pastures new means Argentine Marcelo Loffreda will take over the reigns at Welford Road. The Tigers have strengthened again in the off-season, bringing in hooker Benjamin Kayser and lock Owen Finegan. And with Alesana Tu'ilagi even close to the form of last term, defences will be quaking in their boots! More silverware surely!
Coach: Former Australia centre Howard has taken a role with the Wallabies so Marcelo Loffreda is handed the tough job of bettering last season's success. The Pumas coach has worked wonders with Argentina over the years and his style of play will suit the Tigers no end.
Captain: England captain Martin Corry is fast becoming a veteran of Welford Road as he leads the charge in his eleventh season with the club. His experience is invaluable to his Leicester team-mates - two British & Irish Lions tours, three Rugby World Cups, back-to-back Heineken Cup wins and five Premiership titles. Enough said?
One to watch: Leicester's powerhouse winger Alesana Tu'ilagi was without a doubt the star of Guinness Premiership in 2006/7. The bulky Samoan, who is also blessed with electic speed, caused all sorts of problems for European opposition last term and will surely be no different this time around.
Final 2007/8 league position prediction: 1st
skybet.com prediction (04/9): 9-4 to finish first
In: Mefin Davies (Gloucester), Benjamin Kayser (Stade Francais), Owen Finegan (Leinster), Marco Wentzel (Treviso), Richard Blaze (Worcester).
Out: Shane Jennings (Leinster), Michael Holford (Wasps), Leon Lloyd (Gloucester), Andy Tu'ilagi (Leeds Carnegie), Henry Tu'ilagi (Released), James Buckland (Wasps).
Colours: Green, red and white
Tickets: from £17 adult standing and £20 - £30 seating
£15 concession standing and £18 - 28 seating
£6 junior standing and £10 - £20 seating
£40 family standing and £50 - £61 seating
Travel connections: Leicester is not too far from the M1 motorway which runs from London to Glasgow, but the easiest option is to take the train; Leicester station is a mainline one and is only a ten-minute walk from the ground. East Midlands airport is not too far away from Leicester - about 30-45 minutes' drive, and connects to much of Europe.