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Leicester Tigers Interested in Signing Jooste

Richard Cockerill, the Director of Rugby of the Aviva Premiership Rugby Union side the Leicester Tigers has stated that the team is considering the option of signing Wessel Jooste, the back row forward from South Africa ahead of the start of the new season of the Aviva Premiership. The 31 year old spent the last 8 seasons with Bourgoin, the Top 14 side from France and would be a fantastic signing for The Tigers if he manages to complete the necessary paperwork involved to make the deal happen.

Speaking to BBC Radio Leicester, Cockerill stated that Jooste has been on trial with the record champions of the Aviva Premiership for quite some time and has been impressive with his performances on the training ground. But Cockerill also admitted that the South African was the one who was looking at the options of sorting out the necessary paperwork involved in terms of being granted a VISA and a work permit to put pen to paper on a deal with the Leicester Tigers.

The Tigers, who are currently enjoying a good spell of friendly matches ahead of the kickoff of the new season, have already 9 new players to the squad that finished second to Harlequins FC in the playoff final for the Premiership, narrowly missing out on what would have been their 9th Premiership title. However, with the injuries to Tm Croft and also Craig Newby, the addition of the versatile Jooste could prove to be a master stroke on the part of the Leicester Tigers management.

Cockerill admitted that his versatility would be a boost to the squad. Moreover, he added that his physique would make it really easy for him to adapt to the style of play in the country and he admitted that his signing would complete the puzzle.

Leicester Tigers Sell Record Season Tickets

Aviva Premiership Rugby Union side the Leicester Tigers might have missed out breaking their own record for being the winners of the title for the most times last year, having fallen at the final hurdle to Harlequins FC, but the fans of the club have reason to believe that they will go all the way this year. And that has translated in The Tigers selling more season tickets for the upcoming 2012/13 season, and has already surpassed the figures for last season with almost 5 weeks to go to kickoff.

The club has sold a staggering 13,150 season tickets, according to the numbers revealed on the website of the club, a figure which is 150 more than they sold last season. Simon Cohen, the Chief Executive Officer of the Leicester Tigers has stated that the level of ticket sales for this season has been absolutely fantastic. According to Cohen, there is a lot of work that is going on at Welford Road at the moment; and the sale of so many season tickets already can be regarded as a fantastic achievement, considering the tough economic conditions globally.

Cohen revealed that the best seats in the stadium in Caterpillar Stand have already been sold out and praised the fans of the club for showing such fantastic support, adding that the board, the management team and the players of the Leicester Tigers are extremely pleased with them for their continued support. Cohen also mentioned that the preparations for the upcoming season are in full flow at the club.

According to the lifelong fan of The Tigers, there is a deafening buzz about the whole place and the players can feel it too and it will only hold them in good stead as they are more motivated to go that extra mile this season.

Tigers Keen to Hold on to O’Connor

Aviva Premiership side the Leicester Tigers are keen to extend the coaching contract that the club currently has with head coach Matt O’Connor that would keep him at Welford Road beyond his current deal. According to Simon Cohen, the Chief Executive of the club, the club has already started its contractual negotiations with their head coach that would see him stay beyond his current deal that expires at the end of the upcoming 2012/13 season.

O’Connor joined The Tigers back in 2008 as the backs coach and has since been promoted to the position of head coach but over the last few months, he has been linked with a move away from the record Premiership champions with many clubs back in his native Australia wanting to take him away from England. But as per the comments of Cohen, the club has already appointed their director of rugby Richard Cockerill with the responsibility of persuading him to sign a new deal with the club and it is being believed that Cockerill has already started a conversation with the 41 year old Australian over a contract extension.

The Leicester Tigers have been the most successful side in the Premiership since its inception and with O’Connor on board, their performances have improved on the field dramatically as they have not failed to reach the playoffs any season after he joined the team and there is every hope that he will put pen to paper to a new contract with the club.

Speaking to BBC Radio on the issue, Cohen added that there is no doubt that Matt O’Connor will be staying with the Leicester Tigers for this season and they are hoping that they are able to keep him for longer than that and with Cockerill signing a new contract, it may just be a matter of time before he does too.

IN CONTENTION

Leicester are in contention for yet another league title and with their excellent timing of coming into form it would be hard to argue against them having a chance of going all the way once again. Whatever this season ends up holding for the Tigers one thing is for sure. Their ever present hooker, George Chuter is determined that he will be able to retain his place in the Tigers’ side next season.

Chuter has been at the Tigers since 2001, in which time he has collected several honours with the Tigers and picked up an impressive collection of England caps along the way. Should Chuter’s career end today he would be remembered as a successful player with a string of impressive stories to tell. But at the ripe old age of 35 he is determined that he will be able to play on for at least one more year.

“I’m feeling pretty good at the moment, I’m happy where I am in terms of fitness and physical well-being and I’m still enjoying it.”

He went on to explain how important the enjoyment factor is to his decision on when to hang up his boots. A player of Chuter’s stature will be determined to remain playing as long as he can remain competitive and he will no doubt not enjoy playing on if he cannot be able to play at the highest possible level.

He will need to remain at the top of his game in order to maintain his place in the Leicester starting 15. He will face competition from Tom Youngs, Rob Hawkins and Jimmy Stevens each trying themselves to build careers as impressive as Chuter’s.

Chuter is full of praise for his coach at Leicester, Richard Cockerill and has tipped him as a possible future England coach. “I’m not sure if he would take the job if it came along but, if you are looking around for candidates in the future, he’s got to be on the list.”

YOUNGS HAS EXCITING FUTURE

George Chuter, the hooker for the Leicester Tigers is looking forward to helping fellow hooker Tom Youngs develop his play with an eye on the future but insists that he is in no hurry to give up his number 2 jersey for the record 9 time champions of the Aviva Premiership. Tom Young, who is the elder brother of England international scrum half is having the best season of his career since he molded his play to suit the role of a hooker from centre and is knocking on the doors of first team action for the Tigers.

The 25 year old has taken his appearance tally for the season in double figures for the first time in his career ever since he made his debut in the professional circuit almost 6 years back now. Over the years, the fans of the Leicester Tigers had grown to seeing cameos from the player but according to Chuter, the days of Youngs playing just a few minutes for the Tigers are coming to an end and he will be a starter for the team for at least the next decade.

According to Chuter, the back injury that Youngs sustained might have halted his progress a bit but he has made a brilliant come back and whenever he has been called on by the manager to deliver, he has done that and it just a matter of time that he becomes the leading hooker in Tigers side.

Chuter also added that Tom Youngs is extremely physical and loves to get involved in things and it is this kind of attitude and passion that appeals immensely to the fans of the Leicester Tigers who were singing his name in the terraces in the match against Wasps Rugby team and Chuter believes that in a couple of years, that will be a regular sight.

LEICESTER READY FOR BIG MATCH

Leicester’s Scott Hamilton insists that when the Tigers take on Gloucester their opponents will not be the only ones aiming to play attractive rugby.

The clash sees fourth take on fifth and sees potentially two of the most watchable sides in the league meet. Gloucester have developed a reputation this season for playing ‘nice rugby’ and being prepared to run the ball wherever possible. But it is Leicester who have picked up more try scoring bonus points than anyone in the league so far this season. The Tigers are also the side to have scored the most tries in the league.

Gloucester go into the game on the back of impressive victories over Harlequins and Northampton whilst Leicester are coming off a 6 try annihilation of Newcastle last weekend.

Hamilton is sure this weekend’s clash will be a good game, he highlights Gloucester’s dominance in dry weather and shows that the Tigers know the strengths of their opponents. When the two sides met last year it was one of the best games in the Premiership’s history. 10 tries were scored in total and the sides drew 41-41.

Both sides are on good form, and Leicester are in some good try scoring form. This week’s game may not be quite the spectacle of last year but Hamilton is confident of a good game. “I am not sure it will be 10 tries like there were in last year’s 41-41 draw but it should be a good game in front of a big crowd”. Whatever crowd does turn up there is every chance they will be entertained, between them Leicester and Gloucester have scored 75 tries this season.

With the table so tight this fourth against fifth clash could prove crucial in the race for the play offs. Just 15 points separate third and tenth and just 6 separate third and seventh. Defeat could see either side lose places and victory could see them climb the table. Whatever the result, whatever the weather, this game will be intriguing and hopefully as entertaining as it seems set to be.