Leicester Tigers 2019-20

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Fixtures


September
13th Misc - Premiership Sevens, Pool Fixtures
14th Misc - Premiership Sevens, KO Fixtures
21st 15:00 - Worcester (a), Premiership Cup
27th 19:45 - Exeter (h), Premiership Cup

October
 5th 15:00 - Bath (a), Premiership Cup
12th 15:00 - Northampton (h), Premiership Cup
19th 15:00 - Worcester (a), Gallagher Premiership
27th 15:00 - Saracens (h), Gallagher Premiership

November
 2nd 15:00 - Gloucester (h), Gallagher Premiership
10th 15:00 - London Irish (a), Gallagher Premiership
16th 15:00 - Pau (h), Challenge Cup
23rd 20:00 - Cardiff (a), Challenge Cup
30th 15:00 - Northampton (a), Gallagher Premiership

December
 7th 15:00 - Calvisano (h), Challenge Cup
14th 13:30 - Calvisano (a), Challenge Cup
21st 15:00 - Exeter (h), Gallagher Premiership
28th 16:30 - Harlequins (a - Twickenham), Gallagher Premiership

January
 4th 15:00 - Bristol (h), Gallagher Premiership
12th 15:15 - Cardiff (h), Challenge Cup
17/18/19 - Pau (a), Challenge Cup
24/25/26 - Bath (a), Gallagher Premiership

February
14/15/16 - Wasps (h), Gallagher Premiership
21/21/23 - Sale (a), Gallagher Premiership
28/29/01 - Worcester (h), Gallagher Premiership

March
6/7/8 - Saracens (a), Gallagher Premiership
20/21/22 - Exeter (a), Gallagher Premiership
27/28/29 - Beth (h), Gallagher Premiership


April
3/4/5 - Castres (h), Challenge Cup 1/4 Final
10/11/12 - London Irish (h), Gallagher Premiership
17/18/19 - Gloucester (a), Gallagher Premiership
24/25/26 - Sale (h), Gallagher Premiership

May
8/9/10 - Wasps (a), Gallagher Premiership
15/16/17 - Northampton (h), Gallagher Premiership
29/30/31 - Bristol (a), Gallagher Premiership

June
5/6/7 - Harlequins (h), Gallagher Premiership


Squad & Coaching Team


Head Coach: Geordan Murphy
Forwards Coach: Mark Bakewell
Attack Coach: Mike Ford
Defence Coach: Phil Blake
Scrum Coach: Boris Stankovich
Senior Development coach: Brett Deacon
Team Manager: Teresa Carrington


First Team Squad:
Props (8): Greg Bateman, Dan Cole, Gaston Cortes, Ellis Genge, Facundo Gigena, Joe Heyes, Owen Hills, Nephi Leatigaga
Hookers (5): Charlie Clare, Jake Kerr, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Jimmy Stevens, Tom Youngs
Second Row (4): Calum Green, Tomas Lavanini, Will Spencer, Harry Wells
Back Row (8): Jordan Coghlan, Dave Denston, Sione Kalamafoni, Sam Lewis, Hanro Liebenberg, Tommy Reffell, Jordan Taufua, Guy Thompson
Half Backs: (8)Sam Harrison, Harry Simmons, Ben White, Ben Youngs, George Ford, Tom Hardwicke, Johnny McPhillips, Noel Reid
Outside Backs (13): Sam Aspland-Robinson, Kyle Eastmond, Andy Forsyth, Jonah Holmes, Jonny May, Jordan Olowofela, Jaco Taute, Joe Thomas, Adam Thompstone, Manu Tuilagi, Telusa Veainu, EW Viljoen, George Worth

Development Squad:
Props (3): Osman Dimen, Keston Lines, James Whitcombe
Hookers (0):
Second Row (3): Cameron Jordan, Tom Manz, George Martin
Back Row (5): Ollie Ashwoth, Sam Eveleigh, Taylor Gough, Henri Lavin, Thom Smith
Half Backs (3): Jonny Law, Jack van Poortvliet, Sam Costelow
Outside Backs (4): Joe Browning, Kyran Bungaroo, Leo Gilliland, Freddie Steward

Good point re Batley, if he was signing as well as Alemmano I really wouldn't worry about losing Spencer. Spencer has looked good when he's had a run of games but generally he gets a run of games starts to look like he might be good and then gets injured and we're back to square one. Lavanini has been awesome this season and made him look very average.

I hope Jordan comes on, I don't think he'll be any more than a clubman but if he's a physical clubman that throws his weight around and does well at the set piece then excellent. Martin coming up behind is the one that is likely to make an impact internationally.

4. Lavanini, Batley, Jordan
5. Alemmano, Green, Wells

Would be good options, might even be able to get Jordan some more loan action in the Championship, he played a bit for Nottingham this season. Martin will need more loan time to help his development.

It sounds like we aren't just throwing big money at our established names to keep them in board anymore. If Youngs and May are taking big pay cuts then Kalamafoni and Thompson will be as well. TPN is a great bloke off the field by all accounts but is surplus to requirements unless he's taking a 50% pay cut and even that might not be enough. There's been some fairly good rumours previously that Tom Youngs is taking over the family farm and planning to spend a lot more time with his family, given what they've been through who can blame him.

Given everyone else seems to be good at mining the South African teams for talent I'm more than happy for us to sign another hulking monster for the pack. I really liked what I saw from Liebenburg pre injury and a bit more of that won't hurt. Probably get more value for money than what we'd spend getting Moriarty though I'd really like to get hold of Ben Earl.

Tom Youngs will be staying
I reckon Kalamafoni and Thompson will be off.

Welly wrote: Tom Youngs will be staying
I reckon Kalamafoni and Thompson will be off.

He may well have chant his mind now his wife has recovered. Previously I had heard he was 100% looking to retire but that was a year or so ago so things could have changed.

Given how little Guy is playing I'd imagine he will be off. Kalamafoni could go either way. Depends what offers he has in because he signed when we were desperate for a big 8 and we won't be offering close to that kind of cash again.

I've heard both rumours about Tom. Even if he stays it will be a fraction of his current contract. He's a stalwart but if the club are making tough calls in recruitment finally then I can't see McGinity making an exception for sentimental reasons.

I actually hope that Tom stays on a lower contract and enjoys a season or two more as just a squad player in what we hope will be a stronger team. His form has been solid for a 33-year old squad player who's been effected by injury. The issue is we are paying for an international due to when he re-signed. He's no longer a starter but if Singleton comes in that won't be an issue.

I know people thought he would be retiring, but never heard any concrete rumours he was just more 2 and 2 together.

A usually well informed Tigers fan I chatted to at the Rec mentioned that Tom might play on in a similar capacity to Julian White during the final 3 years of his career when he was already running his farm out near Kettering.

Also at the Bath game I heard mention that Phil Blake might move on at the end of the season. Ant Allen returning from Coventry was mentioned as a potential replacement. Apparently Brett wants to concentrate on forwards coaching learning from Borthwick rather than defence.

I wouldn't be bothered in the slightest if Blake moved on to be honest. Chasing a defence coach with a bit more experience than AA such as Worsley would be my preference. Or alternatively have Mike Ford coach defence rather than backs/attack which has been largely dire under him.

I'm confused by Mike Ford. He was a defence coach by trade when he got his chance as the main man at Bath. He then oversaw some great attacking rugby and an average defence. Now he's with us as the attack coach and we have some fairly average (I'm being kind) attacking structures. Give him a chance at the defence job and see if we can poach either Shaw or Sorrell from Sarries as they go down, Borthwick will know them and their brutally effective attacking style.

You guys have taken one of Glasgow's young props on loan, Charlie Chapps and given us the Argentinian LH Cortes in his place for the rest of the season.

Is he any good?

Chapps has yet to play for Glasgow, so can't offer to much about him in return, but i guess they must see something in him, he is at least young and can hopefully improve!

4th Choice TH behind Cole, Heyes, Leatigaga

He will be solid I would guess.

I think I've actually seen him play more times for Bristol than Tigers. He's reliably solid in the scrum but don't expect anything else. He got overtaken by a 19 year old fresh out of the academy, unusual in a position like tighthead but probably tells you quite a bit. His contract is up in the summer and it won't get renewed. At 34 (35 next season) he might have a year or two left in the tank as a squad player.

On the upside BigGee your young prop will get some time with Boris Stankovitch who is an excellent scrum coach and has developed some young props well at Tigers.

formerly known as Sam wrote:On the upside BigGee your young prop will get some time with Boris Stankovitch who is an excellent scrum coach and has developed some young props well at Tigers.

Good, hope some of his stardust rubs off on him!

Cortes will likely offer more than Petrus du Plessis at 38.

What's happened with D'arcy Rae at Glasgow, BigGee? There was a lot of chatter about him a few years back and he always looked good for Ayr but seems to have faded into the back ground.

Injured at the moment, never really pushed on past squad player as well.

He is also up before the beak for a bit of dangerous driving and missing his court date!

Hopefully his lawyer will sort that one out!

BigGee wrote:Injured at the moment, never really pushed on past squad player as well.

He is also up before the beak for a bit of dangerous driving and missing his court date!

Hopefully his lawyer will sort that one out!

Fair. He was never renowned as the brightest spark but that's hardly stopped Pro rugby players before. A shame if off field behaviour stunts his development.

Did Sam Grahamslaw end up with Glasgow or Edinburgh? I haven't heard anything of him since he left Tigers. I did see a photo of him at a Heriots game pop up on his Instagram a while back but seemed he was just supporting friends from the U20s.

Edinburgh academy

He was injured at start of season, but i have seen him in Super 6 recently. There are a lot of LHs st Edinburgh though

BigGee wrote:Edinburgh academy

He was injured at start of season, but i have seen him in Super 6 recently. There are a lot of LHs st Edinburgh though

Who's he been drafted to in Super 6?

I've been down to Goldenacre to watch a few Super 6 games. Whilst the tournament was met with much derision and the set-up needs some kinks ironing out (ring fencing squads that large is seeing a lot of good club players see little game time) I do think the standard from the old Scottish Prem has gone up a notch which was the main aim in bridging the gap between the Pro teams and the top club tier in Scotland.

Did Sam Yawayawa ever get anywhere with Glasgow at all? Must say I didn't follow him much after he left Tigers but he seemed a well rounded winger with plenty of pace and power coming through the academy.

I thought it was Heriots, but i could be wrong.

I usually just glance at the teams and read the match reports, i don't think he has made much of a splash yet up north.

SY never really kicked on with Glasgow, he was barely getting picked for our u20s team that year.

He looked small to me, i think he had done all his growing by 16 and others caught him up and overtook him. It is difficult for child stars sometimes to come to terms with not being the fastest or the best player anymore.

He went back down south after that and was playing at a lower level again i think at Cambridge.

BigGee wrote:I thought it was Heriots, but i could be wrong.

I usually just glance at the teams and read the match reports, i don't think he has made much of a splash yet up north.

SY never really kicked on with Glasgow, he was barely getting picked for our u20s team that year.

He looked small to me, i think he had done all his growing by 16 and others caught him up and overtook him. It is difficult for child stars sometimes to come to terms with not being the fastest or the best player anymore.

He went back down south after that and was playing at a lower level again  i think at Cambridge.

Heriots seem to have drafted half the stage 3 players this season - Dan Gamble, Scott King, Jack Mann, Harry Paterson, Charlie Jupp - but I don't think I've seen Sam's name anywhere. As a Tigers fan now ensconced up in Edinburgh for a fair few years and previously involved with Heriots I'll feel pretty silly if I've missed it!

As shame to here about Yawayawa. As you say some players do just get caught up with in terms of athleticism. He was always a stocky lad but very powerful and quick. Hopefully he keeps playing.

Back to fully Tigers related news.

It sounds like Hanro Liebenberg is back in full training. It'd be a big boost if he's fit to return against Wasps. His line-out work and physicality in defence added to the pack before his ankle injury.

In less positive news rumours that the Ospreys are interested in Tommy Reffell. I've heard from a few people that Tommy is very settled at Leicester and he's been getting game time so hopefully it's just idle specultation. His positive effect on our line speed and defence every time he plays is really impressive. He seems a leader in the squad already.

I'd be surprised if Reffell left just yet. The Welsh regions aren't short of opensides and he's getting game time at Tigers. As the youngest member of the senior squad he's doing just fine in regards to development and as it seems likely Thompson will move on at the end of the season he would be in line for more game time next season.

Liebenburg looked really good earlier in the season, particularly Vs Gloucester. Would be a big boost to have him back in the squad. A timely return as our lineout needs to be good Vs Wasps and his defensive work rate will hopefully cut the momentum of their forwards.

https://www.leicestertigers.com/news/gigena-temporarily-departs-leicester-tigers

A little bit clearer why Leicester signed our young LH prop on loan now!

Annoying timing. Gigena is an excellent scrummaging loosehead and gets stuck with the physical stuff. Bit more of a throw back then one of these modern Genge style props that are part prop and part backrow in their playing style. When the weather is a bad then you want someone like Gigena winning you penalties and doing the hard work in the tight.

The young LH from Glasgow might see a bit of action though I'd expect Leatigaga to cover Bateman at loosehead this weekend with Dan Cole and Joe Heyes the tightheads.

king_carlos wrote:

BigGee wrote:Injured at the moment, never really pushed on past squad player as well.

He is also up before the beak for a bit of dangerous driving and missing his court date!

Hopefully his lawyer will sort that one out!

Fair. He was never renowned as the brightest spark but that's hardly stopped Pro rugby players before. A shame if off field behaviour stunts his development.

Did Sam Grahamslaw end up with Glasgow or Edinburgh? I haven't heard anything of him since he left Tigers. I did see a photo of him at a Heriots game pop up on his Instagram a while back but seemed he was just supporting friends from the U20s.

I was wrong on SG, it is actually Watsonians he is with, on the bench this Friday for their match against Heriots.

BigGee wrote:

king_carlos wrote:

BigGee wrote:Injured at the moment, never really pushed on past squad player as well.

He is also up before the beak for a bit of dangerous driving and missing his court date!

Hopefully his lawyer will sort that one out!

Fair. He was never renowned as the brightest spark but that's hardly stopped Pro rugby players before. A shame if off field behaviour stunts his development.

Did Sam Grahamslaw end up with Glasgow or Edinburgh? I haven't heard anything of him since he left Tigers. I did see a photo of him at a Heriots game pop up on his Instagram a while back but seemed he was just supporting friends from the U20s.

I was wrong on SG, it is actually Watsonians he is with, on the bench this Friday for their match against Heriots.

Cheers BigGee. I'm at the Watsonians vs Heriots game tomorrow night so will be interested to see how Sam is progressing.

king_carlos wrote:

BigGee wrote:

king_carlos wrote:

BigGee wrote:Injured at the moment, never really pushed on past squad player as well.

He is also up before the beak for a bit of dangerous driving and missing his court date!

Hopefully his lawyer will sort that one out!

Fair. He was never renowned as the brightest spark but that's hardly stopped Pro rugby players before. A shame if off field behaviour stunts his development.

Did Sam Grahamslaw end up with Glasgow or Edinburgh? I haven't heard anything of him since he left Tigers. I did see a photo of him at a Heriots game pop up on his Instagram a while back but seemed he was just supporting friends from the U20s.

I was wrong on SG, it is actually Watsonians he is with, on the bench this Friday for their match against Heriots.

Cheers BigGee. I'm at the Watsonians vs Heriots game tomorrow night so will be interested to see how Sam is progressing.

Let us know what you think

Looking at the progress Ben White is making, I feel that Jonny May would give a better return on resources over Lenny.

LondonTiger wrote:Looking at the progress Ben White is making, I feel that Jonny May would give a better return on resources over Lenny.

He's coming along nicely. The problem would be what happens if he gets injured. There's Simmonds and then some very young talented 9s. Ben is the ideal age and experience to help guide them and his international commitments mean there's plenty of game time for the younger lads. Age would lead to Benny fading away as White and Simmonds hit their prime.

If we sign someone else then we either sign a journeyman who just fills a shirt and doesn't add much or we sign someone like Weber from NZ who then leaves White sitting on the bench.

Ben on the rumoured pay reduction I'd be happy with. May I'd very much like to keep but at 30 he's not getting any younger and misses a third of every season.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:Looking at the progress Ben White is making, I feel that Jonny May would give a better return on resources over Lenny.

He's coming along nicely. The problem would be what happens if he gets injured. There's Simmonds and then some very young talented 9s. Ben is the ideal age and experience to help guide them and his international commitments mean there's plenty of game time for the younger lads. Age would lead to Benny fading away as White and Simmonds hit their prime.

If we sign someone else then we either sign a journeyman who just fills a shirt and doesn't add much or we sign someone like Weber from NZ who then leaves White sitting on the bench.

Ben on the rumoured pay reduction I'd be happy with. May I'd very much like to keep but at 30 he's not getting any younger and misses a third of every season.

That's true, but I really can't recall a time when I've seen May play better than he is now. His all round game has improved immeasurably. It looks as though being part of the EPS has grown his defensive and aerial games significantly, to a point where I think he's one of the best in the world. I know that age is always considered against wingers (and largely backs in general), but I'd value performance over age any day to be honest.

Conversely, I can't recall a time when Youngs has played worse than he is at the moment. Considering his age, salary, and England commitments (hopefully for not much longer), I'd be more than happy to see him go, or take a huge pay cut to stay and mentor the youngsters.

OTY banned for four weeks for tapping punching. Panel decided that Rowland's knee drop into Youngs' ribs was accidental.

Yes, it looked very accidental at the time what with their being no one around and the whistle having been blown. Cheap shot that got what it deserved, the. Rowlands whined like a little... anyway, clearly been taking tips of AWJ.

Basically Youngs had already been tried on TV and was now going to get his punishment. His previous meant he couldn't get the ban halved down to 2 weeks it was pretty much the minimum they could have given him. There was no way he could argue he didn't punch him either so was always pleading guilty.

Somewhat a blessing in disguise if it means Jake Kerr gets a bit more game time.

Given relegation is decided there is little excuse not to give the stronger youngsters like Kerr, Lewis and even Steward more game time in strong sides. Kerr between our strong props, Lewis next to Liebenberg and Taufua or Steward partnered by May and TV would be great for player development.

I wouldn't mind Browning getting a bench place this season either. He's very talented and only 2 months younger than Rees-Zammit.

I do like what I have seen of Browning

Is Steward the really tall full back?

GeordieFalcon wrote:Is Steward the really tall full back?

Yep. Starting for the U20s now one of your favourites Hodge has graduated to senior rugby.

Freddie didn't look out of place in senior rugby earlier this season. I'd be more than happy with him being second choice fullback behind Veainu next season. Worth can fill-in ably but lacks Steward's potential. I definitely hope we don't spend cap on another fullback with Holmes, May and Aspland-Robinson all also able to cover.

Rory Hughes hasn't done anything wrong in particular since coming on loan but I'd probably prefer us to just keep bringing through the academy lads Olowofela, Steward, Browning and Gilliland in the back three.

As seen with Hughes you can always pick up a winger on loan in emergency. A guy like Dean Adamson at Bedford has been scoring tries for fun for a few years. That turned out to be a good indicator with Jonah Holmes.

Hodge is also injured I believe.

Hodge was a year group above Steward school wise was he not?

king_carlos wrote:Hodge was a year group above Steward school wise was he not?

Aye. Both born in 2000, but Hodge in May and Steward in December.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Is Steward the really tall full back?

Yep 6ft 4 and by his own admission has been mistaken for a lock.

ruck.co.uk suggests May will take the Falcons offer, while we will be bringing in Moriarty and Huw Jones.

Huw Jones is in contract with Glasgow still.

Are Leicester planning on buying it out?

BigGee wrote:Huw Jones is in contract with Glasgow still.

Are Leicester planning on buying it out?

The story was titled 10 players out of contract at end of season.

https://www.ruck.co.uk/the-10-biggest-rugby-players-who-are-off-contract-in-2020/

3. Huw Jones
Current club: Glasgow Warriors

Market interest: According to Netwerk24, Jones would now like to leave the Warriors after falling out with the coaches and wants a move to the Gallagher Premier Premiership in 2020/21. Although he has yet to put pen to paper, Jones was poised to sign a two-year deal with Leicester Tigers last season and that offer is thought to be still on the table.

Prediction: He’ll head to Welford Road

So despite the story headline, he probably is not, as you say BeeGee, out of contract.

Dan Cole will captain Leicester Tigers in Friday’s Gallagher Premiership trip to face Sale Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium
The 95-cap England prop leads the team in the absence of front-row colleague Tom Youngs, who starts a suspension.

Tatafu Polota-Nau replaces Youngs at hooker, and there are places for Tommy Reffell and Ifereimi Boladau in the forward pack with Jordan Taufua and Sione Kalamafoni ruled out by injury this week.

After securing a third successive home win last weekend with an 18-9 victory over Wasps, Tigers recall Noel Reid and Jordan Olowofela to the backline for this Round 11 contest.

With scrum-half Ben Youngs on England duty and Ben White picking up an injury in the win over Wasps, Tigers also give a Premiership debut to Academy graduate and England Under-20s cap Jack Van Poortvliet at Sale.

Johnny McPhillips, a summer signing from Ulster, could also make his first Premiership appearance for the club after being named among the replacements.

Ellis Genge, George Ford, Jonny May, Manu Tuilagi and Ben Youngs are on England duty at the Six Nations.

Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy said: “We have to scrap for everything – we did that well last weekend. It was a gnarly performance against Wasps in tricky conditions and we were pleased by that.

“We’ve got five players away, we’ve got a few ruled out by injury this week, but it’s a competitive group and players have been putting up their hands in training every week which is just the way it should be.”

Leicester Tigers (v Sale Sharks, away, Friday 7.45pm)

15 Telusa Veainu
14 Jonah Holmes
13 Jaco Taute
12 Kyle Eastmond
11 Jordan Olowofela
10 Noel Reid
9 Jack Van Poortvliet
1 Greg Bateman
2 Tatafu Polota-Nau
3 Dan Cole (c)
4 Tomás Lavanini
5 Will Spencer
6 Hanro Liebenberg
7 Tommy Reffell
8 Ifereimi Boladau

Replacements
16 Jake Kerr
17 Nephi Leatigaga
18 Joe Heyes
19 Joe Batley
20 Harry Wells
21 Sam Lewis
22 Harry Simmons
23 Johnny McPhillips

Sale Sharks:

Sale Sharks: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Sam James, 12 Luke James, 11 Marland Yarde, 10 Rob du Preez, 9 Will Cliff; 1 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Rob Webber, 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 4 Bryn Evans, 5 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Jono Ross (c) 7 Mark Wilson, 8 Daniel du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Curtis Langdon, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 Will-Griff John, 19 James Phillips, 20 Ben Curry, 21 Gus Warr, 22 Tom Curtis, 23 Denny Solomona

Strong looking Sale team. Not liking our changes to be honest.

Any word on what our young SH is like, Jack van Poortvliet?

Tough on Harry Simmons to still be benching with White injured. It will be exciting to see how Jack van Poortvliet does though. He's looked good in the academy set-up and with the U20s.

Without Taufua and the England stars I can't see us getting anything from this to be honest.

I wonder if they had to start JvP after withdrawing him from the U20s squad?