Director of Rugby: Richard Cockerill
Captain: Ed Slater
Position 2013/2014 3rd
Predicted Position 2014/2015: 2nd
2014/15 Leicester Tigers Preview
Last year’s semi finalist’s Leicester Tigers will be more than eager to go one step further this season. Richard Cockerill has brought eight players into his squad and will be delighted to have experienced Italian trio Leonardo Ghiraldini, Robert Barbieri and Michelle Rizzo at his disposal.
Leicester have lost a very key player in out half Toby Flood and Freddie Burns has massive shoes to fill. Burns performed well for England against New Zealand in the summer but his club form has been more than patchy over the last 18 months. Owen WIlliams and Seremaia Bai will rival Burns for the number 10 jersey.
The Tigers, as always, will have an extremely powerful pack which will be led by Ed Slater and Dan Cole. Slater was outstanding last season and is key to the Leicester’s slick lineout play.
When Cockerill’s team do throw the ball out to the backs, Manu Tuilagi is one of the most, if not the most destructive players in the Aviva Premiership. Tuilagi is now fully fit and the Tigers will be looking for him to cause serious damage to opposing defences.
With shrewd signings like Barbieri and Ghiraldini adding to an already seriously impressive squad, I see Leicester Tigers finishing 2nd in the regular season and could very easily end up champions.
Players In:
Michele Rizzo (Prop) from Benetton Treviso
Aniseko Sia (Prop) from Vaimosa (Samoa)
Tiziano Pasquali (Prop) from Academy
Riccardo Brugnera (Prop) from Academy
Leonardo Ghiraldini (Hooker) from Benetton Treviso
Harry Thacker (Hooker) from Academy
Laurence Pearce (Back Row) from Rotherham Titans
Robert Barbieri (Back Row) from Benetton Treviso
Freddie Burns (Out Half) from Gloucester Rugby
Seremaia Bai (Out Half/Centre) from Castres Olympique
Javiah Pohe (Centre) from Academy
Christian Loamanu (Wing/Centre) from Benetton Treviso
Players Out:
Boris Stankovich (Prop) to Newport Gwent Dragons
Ryan Bower (Prop) to Worcester Warriors
Jerome Schuster (Prop) to Tarbes
Rob Hawkins (Hooker) to Newcastle Falcons
Harry Wells (Second Row) to Bedford Blues
Thomas Waldrom (Back Row) to Exeter Chiefs
Michael Noone (Back Row) Jersey
Scott Steele (Scrum Half) to London Irish
Ryan Lamb (Out Half) to Worcester Warriors
Toby Flood (Out Half) to Toulouse
Daniel Bowden (Out Half/Centre) to Blues
Henry Purdy (Centre) to Gloucester Rugby
Harry Rudkin (Prop) Released
Lucas Guillaume (Back Row) Released
Pasqualle Dunn (Wing) Released
George Chuter Retired
Joe Cain Retired
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