Parling agrees new contract with Leicester Tigers

Posted on Jan 14, 2013 in Leicester Tigers

International second-rower Geoff Parling has agreed terms on a new contract to stay with Leicester Tigers beyond the end of this season.

Parling joined Leicester from Newcastle Falcons in the summer of 2009 and has now made more than 50 starts for the club.

Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill said: “We told Geoff that he has always been part of our plans going forward and it is very good news that he has decided to stay with us.

“He has been an important guy for us over the last four seasons and is now an established international player too.

“His decision shows the quality of the environment we have at Leicester Tigers and that plays a big part in players wanting to stay here. Geoff wants to continue to develop as a player and he agrees with us that he can do that best by playing for Leicester Tigers.”

The 29-year-old Parling has made 60 appearances for Leicester Tigers, including the Premiership Final victory in 2010 and last year’s final at Twickenham.

He joins fellow England internationals Tom and Ben Youngs, and Tigers forwards Graham Kitchener, Steve Mafi and Julian Salvi, in agreeing terms to contracts beyond this season.

Croft back for Tigers–team news vs Worcester

Posted on Jan 3, 2013 in Leicester Tigers

Leicester Tigers welcome back Tom Croft for his first appearance of the season in Friday’s Aviva Premiership Round 13 match away to Worcester Warriors.

Back-rower Croft returns after recovery from a neck injury suffered last season and joins fit-again Steve Mafi and Thomas Waldrom in the Tigers back row for the opening Aviva Premiership fixture of the new year at Sixways. Rob Hawkins is joined by Logovi’i Mulipola and Martin Castrogiovanni in the front row.

Mathew Tait returns at full-back, and there are starting places for Scott Hamilton, Matt Smith and Dan Bowden in the backline, with Toby Flood and Ben Youngs at half-back.

Warriors expect to welcome their biggest crowd of the season so far for Friday’s fixture as they defend an unbeaten home record stretching back to September.

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Murphy and Deacon return to Tigers line-up

Posted on Oct 26, 2012 in Leicester Tigers

Geordan Murphy and Louis Deacon return to the Leicester Tigers starting line-up for Saturday’s Aviva Premiership Rugby Round 7 trip to Gloucester.

Club captain Murphy has recovered from a knee injury suffered in the draw with Saracens in Round 3, while Deacon returned from injury to play as a replacement in last weekend’s win over the Ospreys and is now given a starting place.

The duo have almost 550 first-team appearances for Tigers between them, and director of rugby Richard Cockerill said: “Geordan and Deacs are two of our most experienced players and two of the leaders in the camp so it is good to have them back in the squad.

“We’ve had a decent start but it is important that we keep our form going, especially with the autumn international period coming up.”

Tigers are without Miles Benjamin, Tom Croft, Brett Deacon, Rob Hawkins, Wessel Jooste, Julian Salvi and Richard Thorpe this week due to injury.

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Leicester Tigers disappointed by omission from Rugby World Cup 2015 list

Posted on Oct 9, 2012 in Leicester Tigers

Leicester Tigers chairman Peter Tom CBE says the club is surprised and disappointed by the decision not to include Welford Road among potential venues for the Rugby World Cup in England in 2015.

Mr Tom said: “We are hugely disappointed to learn that Welford Road will not play a part in England’s hosting of the Rugby World Cup in 2015.

“When the International Rugby Board awarded the Rugby World Cup to the country that gave this sport to the world we saw this as an opportunity to celebrate the international game and also the professional club game here. Leicester Tigers wanted to be part of that.

“Welford Road has hosted many, many major occasions over the years, including visits from South Africa, Australia and Argentina national teams in recent seasons. It is home to the best-supported and most successful club in the history of the professional game in this country and, as such, we believe is worthy of Rugby World Cup status.

“Leicester Tigers has always been a forward-thinking and progressive club, and has played an important role in the development and promotion of the game in this country. Who can forget that both head coach and captain of England’s World Cup-winning team in 2003, and several other members of the squad and backroom staff, spent major parts of their own careers in Leicester colours? The current England squad also contains a sizeable number of Leicester players, many of whom have been introduced to the sport as fans at Welford Road and have come through the club’s Academy structure to first-team and then international honours.

“It is that kind of heritage and dedication to the development of the game that makes the name of Leicester Tigers and Welford Road stadium known throughout the rugby-playing world.
“Welford Road is the largest designated club rugby stadium in England, an iconic home of the sport in this country and home to the most successful club in the history of a thriving, competitive and successful league structure yet it will not be at the table when it comes to hosting a global rugby event in this country.

“That the organisers of RWC2015 do not think this an appropriate venue for its fixtures is disappointing and confusing both for the professional club game in this country and for its supporters.

“Leicester Tigers has the largest community of rugby supporters of any club in the country and the club invested £15million in building the new Caterpillar Stand in 2009 to take Welford Road’s capacity up to 24,000. A programme of development will continue to improve facilities and the matchday experience for players, supporters and corporate guests. It is disappointing that this investment is not rewarded with World Cup status while many other venues on the proposed list do not show that level of commitment to our sport.

“We wish all of the Leicester Tigers players who will be representing their national teams at RWC2015 every success in it.”

Leicester Tigers team news for Friday

Posted on Oct 4, 2012 in Leicester Tigers

Scrum-half Ben Youngs will make his first appearance of the season for Leicester Tigers in Friday’s Aviva Premiership Round 6 trip to Sale Sharks.

England international Youngs returns after his recovery from a shoulder injury suffered in the second Test in South Africa in June.

Fellow international Manu Tuilagi also returns to the starting line-up after missing the last two games.

Former London Irish flanker Richard Thorpe is in line for his Tigers debut alongside Thomas Waldrom and captain Jordan Crane in the back row, and George Ford comes in to partner Youngs at half-back.

Richard Cockerill, Tigers director of rugby, said: “The attitude and the application of the squad was first class last week against Exeter, especially with the late problems with injuries and illness which could have disrupted us.

“We’ve made a reasonable start to the season but it’s important to keep that going and focus on our own game. We’ve got a good squad and all of the players will have their opportunities.”

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Leicester Tigers matchday team news for Aviva Premiership Round 5

Posted on Sep 28, 2012 in Leicester Tigers

Summer signing Dan Bowden will make his Leicester Tigers debut in the home game against Exeter Chiefs at Welford Road on Saturday (kick-off 2.15pm).

Former London Irish centre Bowden is named in the Tigers line-up for the Aviva Premiership Round 5 fixture and will run out at Welford Road for the first time.

Front-rowers George Chuter and Logovi’i Mulipola come into the Tigers forward pack and there is a return for Thomas Waldrom at No8 with captain Jordan Crane moving across the back row to blindside flanker.

Ed Slater is included in the matchday squad for the first time this season after recovering from a knee injury.

Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill said: “We’ve all been very honest about the performance against Harlequins last week and the only way we know to correct that is to work hard in training and to front-up again on Saturday.

“Exeter had an excellent win last week and they are a team to be respected. They’re tough opponents and they’ve added to their game again this season.

“We’ve played some decent rugby in the season so far and we’ve been resilient in defence but we need to be more accurate and composed on the ball.”

Anthony Allen and Steve Mafi took knocks in the game against Harlequins last week, while Tigers are also without injured club captain Geordan Murphy, Miles Benjamin, Tom Croft, Louis Deacon, Rob Hawkins, Manu Tuilagi, Micky Young and Ben Youngs.

Tickets for Saturday’s match are available now from the Tigers ticket office (open until 5pm Friday and from 9am Saturday). Call in at Welford Road, phone 0844 856 1880 or book online.

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