Leicester Tigers 2014/15 Thread.

[Welly]

First topic message reminder :

Current Tables Positions:
 AP: 5th
 CC: 2nd in Group 3
 LV: 1st in Pool 3 

Last Game: V Bath @ Welford Road (Won 17 - 8) (Att: 24,000)
Next Game: V Harliquins @ Twickenham Stoop (15:15 KO) Sat 10 January 2015, (Live on BT Sport)


Official 1st XV squad 2014/15: ( Injured, Internationals, Suspension, "Knocked", )
 Head Coach/DoR: Richard Cockerill
 Assistant coaches: G. Murphy, R. Blaze, P.Blake,
 Captain: Ed Slater
 Props: Ayerza, Balmain, Bristow, Brugnara, Cole, Mulipola, Pasquali, Rizzo

 Hookers: Briggs, Ghiraldini, Thacker, Youngs .

 Locks: Deacon, De Cheves, Kitchener, Parling, Price, Slater, Thorn, Peterson

 Back Row: Barbieri, Crane, Croft, Gibson, Matera, Pearce, Salvi, Whetton

 Scrum Half: Harrison, Mele, Youngs

 Fly Half: Burns, Williams

 Centres: Allen, Bai , Heptema, Loamanu, Pohe, Roberts, Smith, Tuilagi ,

 Back 3: Benjamin, Camacho, Goneva, Hamilton, Morris, Scully, Tait, Thompstone, Bell

Development Players 2014/15:
 Oliver Bryant, George Catchpole, Jake Farnworth, Tom Hudson, Ed Milne, Will Owen, Aniseko Sio, George Tresidder, Rhys Williams.


 New Deals 2014/14
 Dan Cole (Long term)
 Marcos Ayerza (3 years)
 Tom Youngs (Long Term)
 Owen Williams
 Graham Kitchener
 Fraser Balmain
 Tiziano Pasquali
 Harry Thacker
 Riccardo Brugnara





 Transfers in 2014/15:
 Brad Thorn (Highlanders)
 Tommy Bell (Jersey)
 Jack Roberts (Rotherham Titans)
 Aaron Mauger (Canterbury Crusaders)
 Jack Whetton (ACT Brumbies)
 Greg Peterson (Manly)

 Transfers Out 2014/15:
 Paul Burke (N/A)
 Neil McCarthy (N?A)
 Mathew Tait (Bayonne)

 Rumours:
Nyanga -----> Leicester, Touion or Metro(http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2588 ... 29,00.html)
Fonua ------> Leicester
Dusautoir ----> Leicester, Irish, Bath Saracens
Albacete -----> Leicester, Irish, Bath Saracens
(both https://twitter.com/pauleddison)
Liam williams -> Leicester (Rugby Paper)
Jerome Kaino --> Leicester
Willem Alberts --> Leicester (Gillingham)
Mike Williams ---> Leicester (Fissler)
Justin Tipuric --> Leicester (TRP)
 

Home tickets can be brought Here:

[b]Premiership rugby 7's[/b]:

Leicester Finish as Plate winners of the 2014 Premiership Sevens!!!!!!!!!

Pre-season games 2014 + friendlies:
 Sat Aug 16th 15:00: Nottingham v Leicester Tigers @ Lady Bay Sports Ground, Nottingham's training ground, in West Bridgford (Lost 26-19)
 Sat Aug 23th 14:00: Edinburgh V Leicester Tigers @ Melrose. (Won 10 -11)
 Fri  Aug 29th 19:30: Leicester Tigers V Cardiff Blues @ Welford Road (Won 21 - 17)
 Tues Nov 4th 19:30: Leicester Tigers V Barbarians @ Welford Road (Lost 26 - 59)

 Fixtures AP 2014/15:
R1: Saturday 06 /09/14, 15.00 – Newcastle Falcons (H) – Welford Road (Won 36 -17)   (Att: 22,639)
R2: Saturday 13/09/14, 15.15 – Exeter Chiefs (A) – Sandy Park (BT Sport) (Won 20 - 24)  (Att: 9,721)
R3: Saturday 20/09/14, 15.15 – Bath Rugby (A) – The Rec (BT Sport) ( Lost 45-0)  (Att: 12,817)
R4: Saturday 27/09/14, 15.00 – London Irish (H) – Welford Road (Lost 19-22)  (Att: 21,682)
R5: Saturday 04/10/14, 15.15 – Gloucester Rugby (A) – Kingsholm (BT Sport) (Lost 33 - 16)  (Att: 15,127)
R6: Friday 10/10/14, 19.45 – Harlequins (H) – Welford Road (BT Sport) (Won 22 - 16)  (Att: 21,510)
R7: Saturday 15/11/14 – 15.00 – Saracens (H) – Welford Road (BT Sport) (Draw 21 - 21) (Att: 21,680)
R8: Sunday 23/11/14 – 14.30 – London Welsh (A) – Kassam Stadium (BT Sport) (Won 5 - 26) (Att: 3,249)
R9: Saturday 29/11/14, 15.00 – Wasps (H) – Welford Road (Won 18 - 16) (Att: 21,907)
R10: Saturday 20/12/14 15.00 – Northampton Saints (A) – Franklin's Gardens (Lost 23 - 19) (Att: 13, 362)
R11: Saturday 27/12/14, 14.00 – Sale Sharks (A) – AJ Bell Stadium (Won 30 - 32) (Att: 11, 247)
R12: Saturday 03/01/15, 15.00 – Bath Rugby (H) – Welford Road (Won 17 - 8) (Att: 24,000)
R13: Saturday 10/01/15, 15.15 – Harlequins (A) – Twickenham Stoop
R14: Saturday 14//02/15, 15.00 – Gloucester Rugby (H) – Welford Road
R15: Saturday 21/02/15, 15.00 – London Irish (A) – Madejski Stadium
R16: Saturday 28/02/15, 15.00 – Sale Sharks (H) – Welford Road
R17: Sunday 08/03/15, 15.00 – Newcastle Falcons (A) – Kingston Park
R18: Saturday 28/03/15, 15.00 – Exeter Chiefs (H) – Welford Road
R19: Saturday 11/04/15, 15.00 – Saracens (A) – Allianz Park
R20: Saturday 25/04/15, 15.00 – London Welsh (H) – Welford Road
R21: Sunday 10/05/15, 14.00 – Wasps (A) – Adams Park
R22: Saturday 16/05/15, tbc – Northampton Saints (H) – Welford Road
Fixtures in Rounds 1-6 are confirmed. From Round 7 onwards they are subject to television selections.

 Champions Cup pool + Fixtures 2014/15:
 Pool 3
 Toulon
 Leicester Tigers
 Ulster
 Scarlets.

European Champions Cup fixtures
Round 1: Saturday, October 18 (7.45pm) Leicester Tigers v Ulster Rugby (Won 25 -18) (Att: 19,943)
Round 2: Saturday, October 25 (7.45pm) Scarlets v Leicester Tigers (Lost 15 - 3) (Att: 8,235)
Round 3: December 5/6/7 Leicester Tigers v RC Toulon (Won 25 - 21) (Att: 22,114)
Round 4: December 12/13/14 RC Toulon v Leicester Tigers (Lost 23 - 8) (Att: 15, 045)
Round 5: January 16/17/18 Leicester Tigers v Scarlets
Round 6: January 23/24/25 Ulster Rugby v Leicester Tigers

 
LV Cup

 Pool 3
Leicester Tigers
Wasps
Newcastle Falcons
Scarlets

 LV Cup fixtures
 Round 1: Saturday, November 1 (3:00PM) London Irish V Leicester Tigers (Won 16 - 17) (Att: 5,131)
 Round 2: Sunday, November 8 (3:10PM)  Leicester Tigers V Sale sharks ((Won 29 - 13)) (Att:)
 Round 3: 30/31 Jan/ 1 February Leicester Tigers V Northampton Saints
 Round 4: 6/7/8 February Cardiff blues V Leicester Tigers

 
Fixtures
Round 1 - 31 October/01/02 November: London Irish v Leicester Tigers
Round 2 - 07/08/09 November: Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks - Sunday, November 9, KO 15:15. Live on Sky Sports
Round 3 - 30/31 January/01 February: Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints
Round 4 - 06/07/08 February: Cardiff Blues v Leicester Tigers
Semi Finals - 13/14/15 March
LV= Cup Final - 22 March (venue to be confirmed)

 

[b]A League Fixtures[/b]:

 
 Academy Squad 2014/15:
 

Spoiler:

[DeludedOptimistorjustDave]

Aaron Mauger
http://www.leicestertigers.com/news/21224.php#.VITFzTGsWac

Your new coach as of next year thats who I'm on about.

[Ozzy3213]

Well played Tigers, cracking performance. Will need to be even better next week though to get anything down in France.

[DeludedOptimistorjustDave]

Dave, give it a rest.   This will be your sole warning, you are clearly on the wind up and if you want to carry on a ban will ensue.

I will walk away from this thread.

[nathan]

Well played Tigers, cracking performance.   Will need to be even better next week though to get anything down in France.

Yep, can't see us winning unfortunately. Could see us getting a losing bonus point though

[nathan]

Dave, give it a rest.   This will be your sole warning, you are clearly on the wind up and if you want to carry on a ban will ensue.

I will walk away from this thread.

Thank you, thought you might after getting the coach thing wrong.

[Welly]

Next season being the key thing.

[DeludedOptimistorjustDave]

Dave, give it a rest.   This will be your sole warning, you are clearly on the wind up and if you want to carry on a ban will ensue.

I will walk away from this thread.

Thank you, thought you might after getting the coach thing wrong.

Nope don't want to be banned for giving out facts.Any way well done Tigers on the win I'm off this thread now and Nathan no doubt we will speak when it's Tigers v Scarlets, but seriously enjoy that win not many get one over Toulon.

[nathan]

I'm sure we will...

Just to clear it up. You said we were coached by a kiwi and provided evidence of us signing a kiwi coach for next year, you've got to man up and admit you were wrong!

[nathan]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-2864654/Martin-Castrogiovanni-launches-spectacular-attack-former-coach-Richard-Cockerill.html

Full story from Castro whom I'm sure is paid a nice sum at toulon

[Welly]

Full transcript basically

‘I thought f****** Leicester were f****** amateur,’ said Castrogiovanni. ‘He was saying that people go for the money but he has a lot of f****** squad players who get paid as well. I paid my own f****** money to leave this club. I don’t need the money to play rugby. I love this game and I used to love this club – I still love this club, but when people are up to here in water, they talk this talk but don’t walk the walk.

‘I never want to speak with Cockers anymore. I am the kind of guy that if I hate you, if you are not clear with me or if you have been a c***, how you say in English, I never want to speak to you anymore. That’s it. That’s how I am. I am not fake. If I hate you, I say in your face and I will never speak to you again. Love me or hate me. I don’t hate anyone. Peace and love. I just don’t like c****.’

‘I never had the opportunity to defend myself when I left,’ added the 33-year-old. ‘People talked about this s*** and money. Cockers talks about the money, but the real reason I left this club is because you have Cole and you have me. Cole paid gets paid half the money from the RFU and I am foreign.

'What the f*** you want? You have a good f****** tighthead prop playing for England and a hairy fat Italian. The thing is that they made it look like I went for the money but I paid £100,000 from my pocket to leave this club because I want to play rugby. That’s it.

I always love this club and I wanted to clarify and talk face to face, which is something Cockers never does. I think in the last few years people are getting sacked and this club was not like that before.

'They used to respect people, now they act like nothing is going on. That is not from the club, that is from the guys in charge. Everything you do in your life - good or bad - will come back to you and they sack people who have been at this club for 17 years. When I get to this club it was all about the shirt and the badge.’


COckers reply

I’ve a lot of time for Castro – he’s a fantastic player and icon for this club and a great guy,’ said the Tigers coach.

‘I always said I would pick on merit and I did. Dan Cole was third choice behind Julian White and Castro and worked hard to become first choice. Castro was released from his contract a year early and we agreed a transfer fee with Toulon. One day he’ll realise that’s just sport.

‘This club made him the player he was. I don’t want him to feel bitter towards us. One day we’ll have a beer together and smile about it.’


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rug...#ixzz3LFchHD4R
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

[nathan]

Sounds like he was peed that he wasn't released from his contract early for free

[Welly]

Basically.

 I like him but he is to passionate for his own good at times.

[nathan]

Yeah I do, suppose he's a firery italian

[Welly]

Also don't think he knows the Leicester ways.

 Richards was sacked because we came 5th for Christ sake after one of the best season ever.

[Sgt_Pooly]

Nice reply from Cockers though.

[LondonTiger]

Well, thought the pack went well, but still no discernible attacking plan. Find claims we cheated to gain penalties offensive.

[nathan]

Well, thought the pack went well, but still no discernible attacking plan. Find claims we cheated to gain penalties offensive.

Wouldn't worry about it, he also thought our current coach was a kiwi.

[formerly known as Sam]

Good win for Tigers but two errors to gift Toulon tries was pretty awful. Need to be better than that.

Handling was still dire but at least the kicking from hand was excellent. Gibson and Thorn were huge up front and that's the best Tait has played all season.

[Rugby Fan]

Sounds like he was peed that he wasn't released from his contract early for free

Well, if he did buy himself out of his contract so he could get some more first team rugby, then you can understand why he might be aggrieved if someone at Leicester is putting it about that he only moved to get more money.

Daft way to make his point, though. Hasn't he still got that restaurant in Leicester with Geordan Murphy?

Mind you, I did find it a bit tiresome to hear Cockerill keep banging on about how much Toulon's players were paid. You can't play the "band of brothers" card for your own team and then turn around and tell Castro that it's just business.

[Welly]

Sounds like he was peed that he wasn't released from his contract early for free

Well, if he did buy himself out of his contract so he could get some more first team rugby, then you can understand why he might be aggrieved if someone at Leicester is putting it about that he only moved to get more money.

Daft way to make his point, though. Hasn't he still got that restaurant in Leicester with Geordan Murphy?

Mind you, I did find it a bit tiresome to hear Cockerill keep banging on about how much Toulon's players were paid. You can't play the  "band of brothers" card for your own team and then turn around and tell Castro that it's just business.

 Erm so his  idea of playing more rugby is to start something like 7 games wasn't it last season?

 Don't get your last comment either?

[ChequeredJersey]

Well done, huge win that!

[Rugby Fan]

Sounds like he was peed that he wasn't released from his contract early for free

Well, if he did buy himself out of his contract so he could get some more first team rugby, then you can understand why he might be aggrieved if someone at Leicester is putting it about that he only moved to get more money.

Daft way to make his point, though. Hasn't he still got that restaurant in Leicester with Geordan Murphy?

Mind you, I did find it a bit tiresome to hear Cockerill keep banging on about how much Toulon's players were paid. You can't play the  "band of brothers" card for your own team and then turn around and tell Castro that it's just business.

 Erm so his  idea of playing more rugby is to start something like 7 games wasn't it last season?

 Don't get your last comment either?

If you think he's lying, then that's fine. I was only pointing out the reason he actually gave, not trying to vouch for him.

What I meant by my last comment is that Cockerill can't have it both ways. When told about Castro's outburst, he didn't agree there was anything wrong about the way the prop's exit was handled because "that's just sport". It's a professional game and Leicester weren't about to leave any money on the table by just letting him go for nothing. I think that's a fair stance to take. What you can't do is then go on about how players join other clubs for money as if that plays no role in your own thinking, and give the impression that salary is not a factor in why anyone would join Leicester.

Incidentally, I thought Cockerill said the right things in response. If Castro wants to hold a grudge, then that's his affair, but Cockerill has left the way open should he calm down and regret having made such a scene.

[nathan]

I don't think he's ever said or implied that salary wasn't a factor when players joined Leicester, He's said that money wasn't as big a factor as it was elsewhere but he's never dismissed it.

[George Carlin]

Massive result - well done, looked like the Tigers of old.

Cockers must know Castro backwards and the short, friendly response will have been carefully judged.

[Big]

Massive result - well done, looked like the Tigers of old.

Cockers must know Castro backwards and the short, friendly response will have been carefully judged.

Would agree with that really. I can't help but hope Castro does cool off on this, as if anything it sounds like Toulon were the ones treating him badly. If a transfer sum is agreed surely it's up to Toulon to pay it not Tigers to let it go. And you can't really complain about Cole just because he was playing better and starting more often, and gets lots of money from the RFU for staying in England and playing for England (which is hardly the fault of the Tigers management). Would he have been happier if Italy paid better? And it's not even like there was a huge difference between first and second choice - it was basically a case of who gets 50 minutes and who gets 30. So, even after Castro has put his side across I'm really not sure what he realistically expected from Tigers!

[Welly]

Anyone else really annoyed that castro rant is the bigger news story.

[nathan]

Not fussed to be honest, we did well to win considering our recent form but next week will be on another level

[LordDowlais]

Thought this might interest some of you on this thread:-

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/warren-gatland-weighing-up-dual-8246211

[Welly]

Thought this might interest some of you on this thread:-

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/warren-gatland-weighing-up-dual-8246211

 not 1 quote from a source in wales.

 All based on a game that didn't end till last night.

 Doubt it is currently the case.

 Maybe if it was released later in the week,

 But doubt Gatland would change his mind in less than 24 hours.

[LondonTiger]

Anyone else really annoyed that castro rant is the bigger news story.

Nah.

[LondonTiger]

Thought this might interest some of you on this thread:-

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/warren-gatland-weighing-up-dual-8246211

How would a return to Wales help his RWC chances - seeing as next season starts after the RWC ends.

OK Pro12 will go ahead - but possibly Welsh clubs will have to play their matches away from home only. Even so the squads for RWC are named before Peo12 would start.

[broadlandboy]

As Williams is contracted until end of season signing a dual contract would have no effect on his WC chances unless Gatland says he will only be picked if he returns to Wales.

[LordDowlais]

Well, considering how he left the Scarlets, it would not surprise me if he jumped at a more lucrative dual contract.

[Welly]

Well, considering how he left the Scarlets, it would not surprise me if he jumped at a more lucrative dual contract.

 depends if it is more Lucrative though?

[LondonTiger]

Well, considering how he left the Scarlets, it would not surprise me if he jumped at a more lucrative dual contract.

Not saying he will not leave - just asking how a move will help his RWC chances.

[Welly]

Also what is to say that there will be a DC offer yet?

[LordDowlais]

Well, considering how he left the Scarlets, it would not surprise me if he jumped at a more lucrative dual contract.

Not saying he will not leave - just asking how a move will help his RWC chances.

In the grand scheme of things I do not suppose it sould help his RWC chances, but if Owen Williams thinks that comming back to Wales will give him a better chance then who are we to argue, personally I would rather see the dual contracts spent on keeping the players we have, rather than enticing players back.

[LondonTiger]

Oh pretty sure that moving back would help his international chances - but any move back is effectively after RWC.

[LordDowlais]

Oh pretty sure that moving back would help his international chances - but any move back is effectively after RWC.

The Pro12 will more than likley start in September, which is before the WC, anyway, the season ends in May, so if Owen Williams nails his coulors to the mast before the WC, and at the same time, continues to have a cracking season for Leicester, then he might force Warren Gatlands hand, come on, after Biggar, he only has Priestland to get past.

[formerly known as Sam]

The move away from the Scarlets was good for Owen. Shingler returning clearly demonstrated that the coaches didn't think he was ready to be the starter.

Tigers on the other hand wanted a fly half with his attributes. Flood was a good attacking option and Owen was the controlling option. Tigers have retained that balance with Burns coming in for Flood but Owen is still the go to. No offence to the Welsh teams but he's unlikely to be able to wield a pack like Tiger's in Wales. Though he'll probably get some tasty players to pass too should he get decent ball.

Tigers plays to his strength and puts him in the shop window a move away is a risk.

[Welly]

William Alberts has now been linked to us.

 Apparently, apparently we will know jan if he wants to come.

 Last part is apparently.

 He would be brilliant to have.

[formerly known as Sam]

Well he'd add some serious weight to the back row. Isn't Crane's contract up for renewal as well? More worrying is that Salvi needs a new contract.

6.Croft/Gibson
7.Salvi/Barbieri
8.Alberts/Pearce

That would be some good back row options with some talented youngsters in Beckett, Owen and Milne coming through.

[Welly]

Crane has another year.

 But we do have another marquee player coming so maybe it is a beast back rower.

 Pearce imo won't be ready till the season after next as our main go to guy.

 Salvi will be key.

[formerly known as Sam]

Agreed on Pearce. Good prospect but needs more work. Hopefully see him involved more next season, building up the game time and getting some forms together to challenge for a bench spot. He looks big enough to cover lock and 8 from the bench and I think he came on at lock vs LW. That could be an interesting option going forward.

I hope the new marquee player is a beast. We need that hard carrier in the back row with Crane just unable to find his best form.

[LordDowlais]

William Alberts has now been linked to us.

Oh,oh, do not let Biltong here about this one, he is already having a meltdown about players leaving Sout Africa on another thread.

[bluestonevedder]

William Alberts has now been linked to us.

 Apparently, apparently we will know jan if he wants to come.

 Last part is apparently.

 He would be brilliant to have.

Where did you hear this Welly? 

6. Croft/Gibson
7. Salvi
8. Alberts

is a nicely balanced back row that I would love to see

[Welly]

France press and then Gillingham.

 It fits the type of player we are after according to the club.

 Best thing about Alberts apart from his beast mode, is he has played international 6,7,8.

 imagine he will be less of a demanding player like another certain south African back rower.

[formerly known as Sam]

Could be an Ayerza style issue where he misses a third of the season though. That's not ideal.

[Welly]

Could be an Ayerza style issue where he misses a third of the season though. That's not ideal.

 Would still have covering:
 During 4N
 6) croft, Gibson, Barbieri, Crane, Beckett
 7) Salvi (?), Gibson, Barbieri, Owen
 8) Pearce, Crane, Milne

 During Ai's
 6) Croft (?), Gibson (?), Crane, Beckett
 7) Salvi (?), Gibson (?), Owen
 8) Pearce, Crane, Milne

 ? by Croft and Gibson as maybe in EPS depending on some but both won't be in it,

 Gives the likes of Beckett, Milne and Owen some potential game time.

[Chunky Norwich]

@delmeparfitt
Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac confirms our story of yesterday, deal to bring Owen Williams back is being prepared.

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