Tigers Hopeful of Croft Return from Injury

Richard Cockerill, the Director of Rugby of the Aviva Premiership Rugby Union club the Leicester Tigers is hopeful that flanker Tom Croft will return from injury within a month. Croft has been out of action for quite some time and has missed the England national team’s summer tour of South Africa as well as The Tigers’ opening six games at the start of the new season of the Aviva Premiership after suffering a neck injury in late April.

Speaking to BBC Radio Leicester, Cockerill told that his player has had some repeat scans to ascertain how his vertebrae is healing and added that if the results come out says positive as the medical staff of the club expect, he can start light training and could be in line to return to action within the next three to four weeks. The Leicester Tigers have started the new season of the Premiership strongly and as always, are already being touted as potential playoff favorites as well as the favorites to life the trophy at the end of the season and with several key players returning from injury, the team is expecting to go on a strong run.

If he is given the all clear by the medical staff of the club, Croft could be in line to making his first match of the season against Gloucester Rugby on the 27th of October. However, it is expected that the autumn internationals for the England national team against Fiji that start on the10th of November will come too soon for him to feature.

The Leicester Tigers take on the French side Toulouse in the Heineken Cup this weekend and Cockerill is hopeful that the club will do well on the European front as well, now that most of his key players are back in the side.

Salvi Ready to put his Body on the Line

Julian Salvi, the full back for the Aviva Premiership Rugby Union side the Leicester Tigers will be more than happy to put his body on the line for the cause of the team when the record Premiership champions take on Worcester Warriors on Saturday, the 8th of September in the second match day of the new season of the Premiership. The 26 year old from Australia is expected to be given his second start for The Tigers in the new season of the Premiership when The Warriors travel down to Welford Road for the match.

Just this week, Ben Woods, his fellow back rower announced his retirement from the game at the tender age of 30 years thanks to a problematic broken wrist and Salvi has given the fans a stark insight into the brutal life that an open-side flanker faces in the game and how to survive it. Speaking about his position, Salvi stated that as an open-side flanker, one has to put his head down when going in for the ball and there are bodies and knees flying in each and every direction.

He went on to add that when he gets up, he is just happy to have survived that play and then puts his head down again for the next one. Surviving an 80 minute match means the world to a player in his position. The Leicester Tigers added that he was disappointed to see ‘Woody’ retire at such an untimely age but it’s one of those positions where the players have to grind it out every time and it’s all about luck.

Many open-side flankers retired in recent times, with Be Herring of the Leicester Tigers being the most notable, but Salvi accepts all there is to the position and still is determined to give it his all.

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.