With the announcement of the Aviva Premiership 2015/16 fixtures, Leicester Tigers fans will be eager to begin preparations for the first game of next season away at the Madejski Stadium.
Aviva Premiership Fixtures for Leicester Tigers
Following matches in the new Kings of the North tournament from the previous weekends, Tigers look to get the Premiership season off to the perfect start with a win against London Irish on October 18th. In the week after, Richard Cockerill’s side welcome Harlequins in the first home match since having a new West Stand built at Welford Road. Consecutive home games see Wasps visit on the weekend of 31st October (or better known as World Cup Final day) for what is bound to be one memorable Midlands derby. For Wasps, a trip down the M69 will be the chance to challenge a fresh Tigers squad and, more notably, new head coach Aaron Mauger.
Familiar faces will be waiting for Tigers at Sandy Park at the start of November, with Geoff Parling and Julian Salvi coming up against their old team mates after their move to the Exeter Chiefs over the summer. Last season’s runners up, Bath, join what is predicted to be sell out crowds at Welford Road on the last weekend in November, with both teams likely to be fielding players returning from international duties.
Looking ahead to the festive period, supporters need not travel far on Boxing Day as they have been gifted a home game against Newcastle Falcons. The following weekend, however, will mean a gruelling trip to Champions Saracens – a match in which Tigers need to be fighting fit to win. Cockerill will be able to mix and match with feisty forwards including Tom Youngs, Fraser Balmain, Logovi’i Mulipola, Dan Cole and new signing Greg Bateman to contend with a hefty Saracens front row.
As if that wasn’t exciting enough, the weekend after brings another derby day, with Northampton Saints travelling to Leicester to set upon a likely battle-hardened Tigers squad.
The final match of the regular season hands itself to an away trip to The Rec, which proved to be Tigers’ booby-trap last season (let’s forget about the September 45-0 whitewash). Adding to what is already speculated to be a dynamic and dramatic game, if last season is anything to go by, all could be won or lost in Round 22 .
For what promises to be another spectacular season of rugby, Leicester look to continue the climb from the end of last season and utilise new additions to the team (on and off the pitch) to withstand the trials and tribulations of the Aviva Premiership.
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