Category: Uncategorized

TIGERS APPOINT COHEN

Leicester Tigers have appointed Simon Cohen as their new Chief Executive Officer.

Cohen has worked for the club since 2005, first as Head of Rugby Operations and then in September 2011 he joined the Board of Directors in the new role of Acting Chief Operating Officer.

With a vast and varied background as a sports lawyer, Cohen has previous experience of representing the England rugby team, the British and Irish Lions and the Rugby Players Association.

In addition, he founded the nationwide rugby coaching company Rugby Class, and prior to his move to Leicester worked as agent for a number of England stars including Jonny Wilkinson.

Meanwhile, Leicester Tigers’ domestic campaign gathered further strength with a comfortable LV= Cup quarter-final win over Newcastle.

After crashing unceremoniously out of the Heineken Cup, the two-time European champions have been forced to concentrate on domestic matters, and a 24-13 victory at Welford Road has secured their first LV= Cup semi-final berth in four years.

In snowy conditions number 8 Thomas Waldrom, who was released from England training earlier in the week, scored a try in the first half as the Tigers established a 19-6 lead at the interval.

George Skivington crossed the line after the break to put Leicester out of sight, while the rest of the points came from the reliable boot of fly-half Jeremy Staunton.

The Irishman made way for the returning Toby Flood with just under half an hour left, a development that England coach Stuart Lancaster will no doubt have noted with Italy on the horizon next Saturday.

The Tigers will travel to the Rec to face Bath under the floodlights on Friday, March 9, where the winners will face either Northampton Saints or Llanelli Scarlets at Worcester’s Sixways Stadium the following Sunday.

LEICESTER IN DO OR DIE MATCH

Leicester will be up against Ulster this Friday at Ravenhill as both teams fight it out for a place in the last eight. Both teams, former champions of the tournament have a do or die match in front of them as they look to book a place in the quarter finals.

Only three points separate Leicester, Ulster and Clermont in the fourth pool and hence this will be a very decisive match between the former champions.

Ian Humphreys and Pedrie Wannenburg of Ulster have been declared fit for the encounter and this news will lift up the spirits of the team and the fans alike. Humphreys had picked up his hamstring injury and Pedrie Wannenburg his ankle injury in their team’s encounter with Edinburh. But now since both the players look fit to make a return, the only change that will be taking place in their line up will be that of Paddy Wallace replacing Ian Whitten who has been benched.
Nigel Brady will also be making his hundredth appearance for this club as he replaces Andi Kyriacou.

On the other hand the director of rugby of Leicester will only be making only two changes while preparing to face their strong opponents. Both these changes are going to be made up front as Martin Castroqiovanni and Marcos Ayerza have been the choice of the director.

According to Cockerill, they have a strong team as he has been rotating the squad over the past few weeks in order to avoid player fatigue and weariness. He says that his players are fresh and ready to take on the opponents. He also believes that his players have been playing well over the past few games and look in good shape and form. He acknowledges the fact that Ulster are a very good and tough side and he agrees that it is a must win match for both the sides and hence the competition will be tough.

Let’s see if it is Leicester or Ulster that wins this crucial tie and advances to the quarterfinals.

HUMPHREYS BACKS TIGERS

Former Leicester fly half, Ian Humphreys is adamant that the Tigers will bounce back from the “freak result” against Humphreys’ current side, Ulster.

Humphreys was in great form, dictating play as the Ulstermen ran out 41-7 victors, handing Leicester their heaviest ever European defeat in Belfast last Friday.

Humphrey’s played for the Tigers for three years between 2005 and 2008, helping them to a league title, an Anglo Welsh cup and a European triumph in his time at Welford Road. Despite still feeling a certain level of affection for his former club, Humphreys was delighted with his new clubs triumph and the extent of victory in a game he, understandably believed would be a far closer encounter.

Continue reading » HUMPHREYS BACKS TIGERS

MURPHY EXPECTS FIREWORKS

Leicester captain Geordan Murphy is expecting fireworks in this weekend’s local derby with Northampton Saints. Both sides seem to be coming into good form after slow starts to their campaign with the Tigers having beaten Gloucester at Kingsholm and the Saints crushing Saracens last weekend.

Leicester currently on a six game unbeaten run will be looking to extend their run against rivals Northampton and Murphy knows what to expect. He realises that “Saints struggled, like us, when the World Cup was on. But they have their full contingent back and are a different side now”. Both sides rely heavily on their internationals and seemed out of their depth in the early stages of the season, with pundit Dewi Morris tipping the Tigers for a relegation battle this season. But since the return of the World Cup players the Tigers have looked set for a push for the play offs, as have the Saints. Both will be looking to continue their current momentum and whoever comes out on top in this clash will gain a huge boost as the season reaches half way.

Murphy will be calling on his men to show the same cool attitude they did in last weekend’s victory over Gloucester. They had fought back from behind to lead early in the Second half, only to lose the lead again and have to turn around the game for a second time. This they did, through a late try from Tuilagi and a penalty from Flood to seal a 19-14 victory over an impressive Gloucester side.

The way they lost their lead to Gloucester was cruel. A long pass from Ben Youngs was intercepted by Luke Naraway and heads could easily have dropped. Not in this Leicester side though. Murphy says the team accepts things like that “happen in Rugby”, and they showed the resilience and class that has characterised their club’s game over the last decade of dominance on the domestic front.

This weekend will show just how far the Tigers have improved on their shaky start. The early season worries will be well and truly behind them if they can see off this strong Saints side and they can look forward to a push for the play offs. The same can be said for the Saints. This game is about more than just regional pride. The winners will get a huge boost and the losers will have to dist themselves down and recover, fast.