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.

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.