Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks Digital Matchday Programme (29-01-2021)

LEICESTER TIGERs

VERSUS

SALE SHARKS

G A L L AG H E R P R E M I E R S H I P F R I DAY, JA N UA R Y 2 9, 2 0 2 1 K I C K- O F F 7.4 5 P M

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LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

THE TEAMS

LEICESTER TIGERS

SALE SHARKS

S TA R T I N G X V -

FREDDIE STEWARD

T P C D

15

T P C D

LUKE JAMES

-

KOBUS VAN WYK

T P C D

14

T P C D

BYRON McGUIGAN

SCO

ARG

MATIAS MORONI

T P C D

13

T P C D

SAM JAMES

-

SCO

MATT SCOTT

T P C D

12

T P C D

SAM HILL

-

FIJI

NEMANI NADOLO

T P C D

11

T P C D

MARLAND YARDE

ENG

ZACK HENRY

T P C D

10

T P C D

AJ MacGINTY

USA

-

RICHARD WIGGLESWORTH

T P C D

9

T P C D

FAF DE KLERK

SAF

LUAN DE BRUIN

T P C D

1

T P C D

BEVAN RODD

-

ENG / LIONS

TOM YOUNGS (C)

T P C D

2

T P C D

AKKER VAN DER MERWE

ENG / LIONS

DAN COLE

T P C D

3

T P C D

WILLGRIFF JOHN

-

HARRY WELLS

T P C D

4

T P C D

COBUS WIESE

-

ENG -

-

SAF

-

CALUM GREEN

T P C D

5

T P C D

JP DU PREEZ

-

HANRO LIEBENBERG

T P C D

6

T P C D

JONO ROSS (C)

-

-

TOMMY REFFELL

T P C D

7

T P C D

SAM DUGDALE

-

-

JASPER WIESE

T P C D

8

T P C D

JOSH BEAUMONT

-

ARG

JULIÁN MONTOYA

T P C D

-

SAM

NEPHI LEATIGAGA JOE HEYES

ARG

TOMÁS LAVANINI

-

GEORGE MARTIN

-

CYLE BRINK

-

JACK VAN POORTVLIET

-

JOHNNY McPHILLIPS

SAF

R E P L AC E M E N T S

-

16

T P C D

CURTIS LANGDON

T P C D

17

T P C D

ROSS HARRISON

T P C D

18

T P C D

COENIE OOSTHUIZEN

T P C D

19

T P C D

JAMES PHILLIPS

-

T P C D

20

T P C D

CAMERON NEILD

-

T P C D

21

T P C D

WILL CLIFF

-

T P C D

22

T P C D

ROBERT DU PREEZ

-

T P C D

23

T P C D

TOM ROEBUCK

-

M AT C H O F F I C I A L S Referee: Mr Ian Tempest Assistants: Mr Paul Dix & Mr Jamie Leahy TMO: Mr Christophe Ridley Citing Officer: Mr Chris Sharp A N Y L AT E C H A N G E S W I L L B E C O N F I R M E D O N T H E W E B S I T E

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05

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

CONTENTS 3 TEAMS 7

WELCOME FROM THE CHAIRMAN

9

FROM THE TOUCHLINE

12

CLUB NEWS

16

TIGERS TALK WITH HARRY SIMMONS

21

WELCOME TO JULIÁN MONTOYA

23

MEET THE OPPOSITION

28

MATCH PREVIEWS

32

FULL FIXTURE LIST

34

SQUAD STATS

37

TIGERS MATCHFILE

41

EUROPEAN CLUBS UPDATE

42

HEINEKEN CUP ANNIVERSARY

44

FROM THE BOARDROOM

48

TIGERS PLAYING SQUAD

56

COMMUNITY TEAM

60

ROUND THE WORLD CHALLENGE

62

JUNIOR TIGERS CLUB

65

MATT HAMPSON FOUNDATION

66

ON THIS DAY

69

STATS PACK

73

TIGERS FANZONE

LEICESTER FOOTBALL CLUB PLC Telephone 0116 319 8888 www.leicestertigers.com Facebook.com/LeicesterTigers Twitter @LeicesterTigers instagram.com/leicestertigers Executive Chairman: Peter Tom CBE Chief Executive: Andrea Pinchen Head Coach: Steve Borthwick Directors: Petar Cvetkovic,

Duncan Green, Ben Kay MBE, Fintan Kennedy, Tom Scott Company Secretary: Mary Ford Life Members: Garry Adey, John Allen, Bob Beason, Paul Dodge, Matt Hampson OBE, Dusty Hare MBE, Roy Jackson, Martin Johnson CBE, Ian Smith, Peter Wheeler Club Statistician/Historian: Stuart Farmer Child Protection Officer: Matt Johnson

ROLL OF HONOUR European Champions: 2000-01, 2001-02 English Champions: 1987-88, 1994-95, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2012-13 Zurich Championship Winners: 2000-01 Cup Winners: 1978-79, 1979-80, 1980-81, 1992-93, 1996-97

Anglo-Welsh Cup Winners: 2006-07, 2011-12, 2016-17 Premiership ‘A’ League Winners: 2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10, 2010-11 Premiership U21 League Winners: 2002-03 Premiership Academy U18 League Winners: 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 (joint)

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LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

07

Peter Tom CBE

CHAIRMAN Welcome back to matchday and our first game since the win over Bath here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on January 3.

That is a long time to go between matches, though the players have been working hard with Steve and Aled back at Oval Park and I’m sure they are all desperate to get back out on the pitch this evening.

The win over Bath provided a perfect start to the new year and it was, therefore, very disappointing that the derby at Northampton was cancelled when Saints were subject to a number of positive tests and then decisions taken in France meant we were unable to play the Challenge Cup return matches against Bayonne and Brive.

While disappointing and frustrating, those decisions were all taken to preserve the health and wellbeing of people in their various communities and we send our best regards to everyone affected by this dreadful virus.

Of course we are still having to play behind closed doors, although the beginning of the huge vaccination programme does give some hope that there may be an end in sight somewhere along the road.

In the meantime, I would like to say a special thank-you to you all for your amazing continued support of the club in these challenging times and send the club’s best wishes to everyone in the Tigers Family.

We have been without matchday revenues now for almost 11 months and have had to make tough decisions along the way to ensure the business is able to continue and then be in a position to come through as strongly as possible afterwards.

Having that strength of support from season ticket holders, members, sponsors and anyone who follows the fortunes of the team provides the confidence to make those decisions in the best interests of this great club and merely increases our eagerness to be together again on a Tigers matchday.

Wherever you are currently following the action, whether that is through live coverage on BT Sport, radio commentary, the club’s Matchday Live service or Tigers social media, I hope you can all appreciate the areas where the team has improved in recent months and look forward to the continued development of the squad under Steve’s direction.

Victory over Bath in early January was Tigers' last taste of action

This evening we welcome the players and officials from Sale Sharks, a team just above us in the Gallagher Premiership table and one, of course, out to impress their new coach following the changes made there recently.

Finally, on behalf of everyone at the club, I send condolences to the family of Nick Drake-Lee who passed away last week. Nick was a team-mate of mine here - and a rival when he played for Lancashire in the County Championship - who played eight times for England and then saw his son Bill follow him as a Tigers player in the 1990s.

I send our sincerest best wishes to Nick’s family and friends.

As ever, thank you all for your continued support.

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09

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

Head of physical performance Aled Walters

FROM THE TOUCHLINE It will be great for the guys to get out there and play again. The whole point of doing what we do is to pit yourself against someone at the weekend. That is where you want to measure yourself.

We have challenged the players on a weekly basis to execute the game demands in training and they appreciate we have to work very hard on a consistent basis.

When they come out for a really tough session, they’re buzzing to get out there. There is also a depth in the squad so in every training session the guys have something to prove.

They are working very hard. It’s not only fitness, it is also how well prepared they are and how well the plan is sold. The guys have adapted to it, they understand it well, and that is also a credit to the coaches and how well they have got buy-in.”

WE HAVE CHALLENGED THE PLAYERS ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO EXECUTE THE GAME DEMANDS IN TRAINING AND THEY APPRECIATE WE HAVE TO WORK VERY HARD ON A CONSISTENT BASIS

THE YEAR TO

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LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

CLUB NEWS

STARS OF SOCIAL MEDIA WITH #TIGERSATHOME Supporters may not be able to attend games in stadiums at the moment, but we still want to create the matchday buzz with your #TigersAtHome snaps.

If you are a Tigers fan following the action in the UK or further afield, you can share your matchday snaps in your Tigers kit with the club’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Many supporters have bagged themselves the 2020-21 home and change shirts, and there’s still time to get yours. We’d love to see them in your matchday selfies.

Or if you’ve got a retro shirt, send in your snap and, who knows, you may own one of the club’s oldest pieces of kit?

Everyone who shares their #TigersAtHome photos or videos will be entered into a prize draw ahead of each home fixture to win a Matchday Pack worth £100.

This includes a training hoodie, 8-pack of Tiger bottled beer, bottle opener magnet, fleece blanket, facemask and a pen.

For under-18s, the beer will be replaced with an additional child’s hoodie. #TigersAtHome will run for every game we have to play without supporters in the stadium so there’s plenty of opportunity for your photos to make it on to the @LeicesterTigers pages.

Follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @LeicesterTigers

CLUB SHOP SERVICES While the Club Shop at the stadium remains closed due to the national lockdown restrictions, all online services remain in operation all day, every day.

If you’re looking for some inspiration, check out how Tigers can get you kitted out for 2021 whether you’re looking for lockdown lounge wear or winter warmers.

We have extended our returns policy so any items purchased from November 1 can be returned at any time up until March 31. Simply keep hold of your receipt, along with the original label and packaging.

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*Lines are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays.

If you have a speech or hearing impairment, you can call us using the Relay Service by dialling 18001 followed by 0345 850 8711* Calls may be recorded. To help us continually improve on our service and in the interests of security, we may monitor and/or record your telephone calls with us. Any recordings remain our sole property.

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PROTECTING COMMUNITY VALUES The partnerships that stand the test of time start with vision, skill and understanding. Bringing the best minds together, confidently different.

Choose Gallagher. Your local insurance broker and part of the community since 1972.

Tackling Tomorrow. Together.

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FP1354-2020 Exp 01.12.2021 | ART UK-1896

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LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

T IGE R S TA L K

Harry Simmons

FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE Harry Simmons reveals how he is enjoying a switch of position and the journey as part of the Tigers’ current squad...

“There’s a lot more to playing on the wing than you might think,” says Harry Simmons less than a year into his new role in the back three.

Initially known as a scrum-half, it was the first lockdown back in the spring last year that led to the change of role for the Tigers academy graduate.

“Going from a position which I knew really well, where I’d played for the whole of my life and knowing lots about it, to the wing… It seems a lot easier than it actually is, but there is a lot more to it,” he adds.

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

17

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LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

T IGE R S TA L K The middle of three sons in a sporting family from the happy hunting ground of Norfolk - his dad captained Holt, Norfolk and Eastern Counties, while Harry’s two brothers also wore county colours - Harry moved to Leicester the day after finishing his ‘A’ Level exams at Gresham’s School. He had already played for Eastern Counties and London & South-East as he followed in family footsteps through the ranks at Holt, also the local club of the Youngs family.

A professional debut followed as a teenager against Gloucester in November 2017 and, in a hint of what was to follow, Harry swapped the No9 shirt for the No15 a week later for the game away to Bath.

Last season he received his Players’ Tie after passing the 20game mark for the club and now the switch to the outside backs is a more long-term project.

The idea behind the switch was originally sparked by an injury on the eve of the season in the summer of 2018.

“I’d had a brilliant pre-season but then in the team run before going down to Exeter I just stepped off one foot and felt a pop in my knee,” he says.

“I wasn’t down to play but I was travelling and then I got the injury. It didn’t feel like too much at the time, and I walked off, but a scan showed there was a tear and I had an operation a few days later. I was sent home for three weeks and, with my parents working, I was on my own quite a bit - I got through Game of Thrones in two weeks which is quite impressive.

“But as soon as I was back and surrounded by the boys and able to do a bit more I was fine. When you’re injured and rehabbing, when you make even tiny improvements, like finding a bit more flexibility or something, you’re over the moon, and I just wanted to be back with the boys.”

Game of Thrones done, he still had another eight months to fill on the sidelines before getting back into full training with the squad and then he started thinking about a fresh start with a change of perspective. Harry initiated those first conversations around a possible change of role which now sees him working closely with the likes of Nemani Nadolo, Kini Murimurivalu and Kobus van Wyk on a daily basis.

“Around that first lockdown I had a lot of conversations with staff and a few of the boys about possibly moving to another position,” Harry says.

“We got back in training, I was fit coming back from the lockdown, the knee was really good after the rest, and I started to train initially at full-back because I was more familiar with

that having played some games there in the past.

“Then I moved to the wing a bit more and that was about the same time Steve took over as head coach. Steve said he would like to give me a crack on the wing and I said ‘Of course. If it gets me on the field, we’ll see how it goes from there’.

“The last six months has been about kicking on every day, trying to get better at being a wing, keeping on top of the 9 stuff as well in case they need me there.

Primary training has been with the high ball, the back-field stuff and wing-related discipline, and it’s been brilliant.”

Simmons, now turned 23, says from that point he became primarily a wing and full-back while also still able to offer scrumhalf cover in the squad.

“I love it,” he says. “You know people say you’ll get bored and cold on the wing, but it’s a lot harder than people think. With all the kicking in the game now, there’s a lot of sprinting and not a lot of credit for it at the same time! But it’s been a good transition. There’s a lot to learn

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

19

T IGE R S TA L K and I’m always wanting to learn new stuff. The club have brought in a few wingers in the last year including Nemani, Kini and Kobus - and those boys have been brilliant with me, as well as all the coaching staff. They’ve made the transition a lot easier.

“It has been hard, but it’s also nice to see yourself progressing because you know so little about it at the start and you want to keep adding to that knowledge.

You can see yourself improving day by day, week by week and that’s a satisfying feeling.

“Thankfully Steve has given me a few chances and backed me in that position and hopefully I have done my job and what he has asked for when I have played.”

That Harry grew up with allround skills as a sportsman can do no harm either for someone trying to take on another set of specific skills.

As well as playing county standard hockey and playing football in the Norwich City academy, he also excelled at athletics, though the combination of 100 and 800 metres is not a natural one, unless of course your future includes the unique role of scrum-half/full-back/wing.

“I had a choice quite early of going down the football or rugby route, and my dad decided rugby for me because he’s a big rugby man himself,” Harry smiles.

“I played everything at school and athletics was a big one.

“I did 100 and 800 metres, which is tough, especially as, the way they were arranged, they always seemed to be one after the other when you competed anywhere. I moved to 400 metres

- halfway in between I suppose by the end.

“I did athletics more for the enjoyment really, travelling with my mates from school, and it was just good fun. But it was tough.

I’ve got no plans to go back!”

Now that adaptability and the sprint speed - he has always been among the fastest in the Tigers camp - is being used again in coming to terms with a new set of skills and tactics from the viewpoint of playing in the back three.

“It’s exciting,” Harry says at the end of another tough session at Oval Park, not helped by the first real snowfall of the winter.

“I am very inexperienced in that position, the other boys have been playing there for their whole careers and I’ve been doing it for seven months. Those boys were streets ahead of me in terms of high balls and different types of kicks and reading defences, which I hadn’t done much about before when I was hiding behind the big blokes at scrum-half. But working with all the coaches, Aled and Mike [Ford] have been brilliant with me and the boys like Jaco, Nemani, Kini and Kobus, all those guys, even helping with the small things can make a massive difference.

“I really enjoy it - to be honest I enjoy it a lot more than I thought I would. You don’t get as many involvements as a scrum-half obviously, but you do a lot more sprinting, it is a tough position with all the kick battles now.

I have to thank the staff for all the support. At the start, I thought ‘Here we go, I’m just going to be used as a bag-holder,’ but

credit to them, Steve has started me in the Premiership and in Europe, and I’m just trying to get experience every time I play a game, every big training day, I’m learning so much, and that’s what I love about it.”

There has been a lot of change in his five years within Tigers, but Harry says he sees plenty of good signs going forward.

“I look at the stats and I’m the fastest and fittest I have ever been, which is cool,” he says.

“It’s the hardest I have ever trained in my life, but those stats show it’s working and I think I can only keep getting better in the unique skills of being on the wing too. Where we are now with Steve and Aled, it’s a great environment. The intensity has been ramped up, but it’s smart training. It’s hard and fast but it is all relevant, and there’s a good balance across the week.

“The new boys coming in have been brilliant, the boys buy in to what Steve has brought to the club and it is starting to show.

The signs are there and I am very optimistic for the future.”

DAVID HAYE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14

BARRY HEARN THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11

LEICESTER TIGERS

BUSINESS CLUB

SPONSORED BY MATTIOLI WOODS Leicester Tiger’s Business Club is back for the new year, giving you the opportunity to connect with local and national businesses. Sponsored by Mattioli Woods, the Business Club features one remaining virtual event, as well as two lunchtime networking opportunities.

Our second virtual event of the season kicks off with guest speaker Barry Hearn on Thursday, February 11 starting at 12.00pm.

The following Business Club will take place on Wednesday, April 14 with guest speaker David Haye at Mattioli Woods Welford Road for a networking lunch

A Business Club membership includes: • One place at each of the remaining three events (one virtual event & two lunch events) • Two-course meal for each lunch event • Member option to invite up to two new business introduction guests for each event • Networking opportunities at every event • Listing on the Business Club event page • Priority booking for other club events

Membership Price

£125pp + VAT

Sponsored By

To book your place, call our team on 0116 217 1215 or email sales@tigers.co.uk www.leicestertigers.com/businessclub

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

21

RECENT ADDITION Allow us to introduce a new face in the Tigers squad since our last home game.

Please give a big #TigersFamily welcome to…

JULIÁN M O N T O YA

Position: Hooker | Age: 27

“I am really, really excited about this new adventure. I love the Premiership, it’s one of the best competitions in the world, and I am really excited to be at a club with the history of Leicester Tigers. There is a new staff, new players and a lot of experience across the squad, on a path to be a successful team again. I am looking forward to being a part of it and giving my best.”

Julián Montoya brings the experience of 63 Test caps and two World Cup campaigns with him after linking up with the Tigers earlier this month.

The Los Pumas hooker has arrived on a multiyear deal and has been straight down to work with the squad at Oval Park.

Born in Buenos Aires, he began his senior career at Club Newman in the city in 2013, before joining Pampas XV in 2014 and then progressing to the Super Rugby ranks with the Jaguares in 2016.

An international representative at Under-20s level in 2013, he spent four seasons in Super Rugby and played in the 2019 Final against the Crusaders alongside current Tigers trio Tomás Lavanini, Matías Moroni and Joaquín Díaz Bonilla.

He gained his first Test cap against Uruguay in 2014 and played in the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups, scoring a hat-trick of tries in the win over Tonga.

He has scored nine tries at international level and was part of the Argentina squad at the 2020 Tri Nations, featuring in the history-making victory over New Zealand.

IN THE KNOW: Tigers first enquired about signing Julián 10 years ago when he played against the club’s academy for a touring Cardenal Newman team at Leicester Grammar School arranged with the help of ex-Cardenal old boy Marcos Ayerza.

The past year has been filled with ups and downs, with businesses facing increased uncertainty.

TACKLING TOMORROW. TOGETHER.

As a local insurance broker, Gallagher is committed to supporting the UK business community at its greatest time of need. This season we will be using our Title Partnership with Premiership Rugby, to give local businesses additional support during these unprecedented times. Together we will face the challenges ahead and keep your business moving forward.

Tackling Tomorrow. Together.

Visit ajg.com/tackling-tomorrow-together for more information.

THE GALLAGHER WAY. SINCE 1927.

Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: Spectrum Building, 7th Floor, 55, Blythswood Street, Glasgow, G2 7AT. Registered in Scotland. Company Number: SC108909. FP75-2021 Exp 2022| ART UK-1896

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LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

T O D AY ’ S O P P O S I T I O N

SALE SHARKS  F O R M AT I O N Y E A R 18 6 1  BECAME K NOWN AS SALE SHARKS 1999 – ON HOME GROUND –

1905 HEYWOOD ROAD

1997

2003 EDGELEY PARK

TIGERS BEAT SALE 9-3 IN CUP FINAL

2020-21 RECORD

2 73

TOP TRY SCORER MARLAND YARDE

2012

TOP POINTS SCORER A J McGINTY

AJ BELL STADIUM

2006

SHARKS BEAT TIGERS 45-20 IN PREMIERSHIP FINAL

2 0 19 - 2 0 PREMIERSHIP SEASON

BEST DEFENCE 2 0 19 - 2 0

WON LOST PLACED

13 9 5th

TRIES AGAINST 38 POINTS AGAINST 355 POINTS DIFFERENCE 191

90 GAMES FOR SHARKS 1998-2004 BY NE W DIRECTOR OF RUGBY ALEX SANDERSON

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LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

SQUAD 2020-21 – BACKS – Pos / Honours / Age / Last Club WILL CLIFF SH

-

MARLAND YARDE 32

Bristol

19

Academy

W

England

28

Harlequins

27

Newcastle

TOM CURTIS W

-

FAF DE KLERK SH

South Africa

ONE TO WATCH SIMON HAMMERSLEY

29

Lions

27

Sharks

27

Exeter

21

Academy

26

Macclesfield

FB

-

ROBERT DU PREEZ FH

South Africa

SAM HILL C

-

LUKE JAMES C

-

SAM JAMES C

-

ROHAN JANSE VAN RENSBURG C

South Africa

26

Lions

AJ MacGINTY FH

USA

30 Connacht

BYRON McGUIGAN FB

Scotland

31

Exeter

21

Academy

27

Castleford

29

Leicester

ARRON REED C

-

DENNY SOLOMONA W

England

MANU TUILAGI C

England & Lions

GUS WARR SH

-

20 Academy

KIERAN WILKINSON FH

-

21

Academy

Signed from Newcastle Falcons in the summer of 2019, the Hull-born full-back studied at Durham University and made his Premiership debut in 2014.

Although injury cost him a place with England Saxons during 2016, he played a key part in Newcastle’s run to the Premiership semi-finals in 2017-18.

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LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

– F OR WA RDS – Pos / Honours / Age / Last Club ONE TO WATCH

JOSH BEAUMONT BR

-

28

Fylde

JAKE COOPER-WOOLEY P

-

COBUS WIESE L

31

Wasps

22

Academy

22

Academy

29

Blue Bulls

25

Sharks

25

Sharks

22

Lions

28

Academy

29

Doncaster

23

London Irish

26

Enisei

27

Academy

-

23

Western Province

BEN CURRY BR

-

TOM CURRY BR

England

LOOD DE JAGER L

South Africa

DANIEL DU PREEZ BR

South Africa

JEAN-LUC DU PREEZ Fl

South Africa

JP DU PREEZ L

-

ROSS HARRISON P

-

WILLGRIFF JOHN P

-

CURTIS LANGDON H

-

VALERY MOROZOV P

Russia

CAMERON NEILD H

-

COENIE OOSTHUIZEN P

South Africa

30 Sharks

JAMES PHILLIPS BR

-

33

Bath

MATT POSTLETHWAITE L

-

JONO ROSS 23

Academy

BEVAN RODD P

-

Brother of Tigers back-rower Jasper, secondrower Cobus joined Sharks from the Stormers for the 2020-21 season and has already made a big impression in set-piece and in his hard-tackling work in defence. A South Africa Under-20s cap, he played for Western Province before making his Super Rugby debut in 2017.

BR

-

30 Stade Francais

AKKER VAN DER MERWE 20 Academy

H

South Africa

29

Sharks

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Matchday Training Shirt, £60

28

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

THE BIG MATCH Tigers welcome the Sharks in another big game in the Gallagher Premiership...

FROM BOTH SIDES Tigers and Sale Sharks are on course to complete a century of meetings later this season, as today sees the teams go head to head for the 99th time since a first clash 130 years ago.

The wins record so far stands at 67-26 in favour of Tigers, with five games drawn. There have been 56 previous meetings at the Tigers’ current home, where Sale have won seven times, with one draw.

Tigers are back in action for the first time since January 3, while Sharks are under the direction of new boss Alex Sanderson for the first time since his return to the club from Saracens.

Sale have won their last two games in Premiership action, beating Gloucester away and Worcester Warriors at home. They have lost just once on their travels in the Gallagher Premiership since August - at Newcastle during November.

Sharks have won the last four meetings of the teams in all competitions, including their last trip to Mattioli Woods Welford Road in September.

Manchester-born wing Tom Brady joined Sale Sharks as a teenager and went on to make more than 130 firstteam appearances there before moving to Tigers in 2016. He made his Leicester debut against his former team-mates and is best known in his two-season spell at the club for the decisive try in the Anglo-Welsh Cup Final win over Exeter Chiefs. After departing Tigers, he played in France with Carcassonne before returning to his roots at Sale FC.

LAST FIVE PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS 2019-20

2019-20

2018-19

2018-19

2017-18

29

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

ELSEWHERE IN ROUND 7 Bristol Bears v Bath Rugby In this evening’s other Gallagher Premiership fixture, Ashton Gate hosts a West Country derby with Bristol Bears on top of the league table after six rounds and with their one defeat in the last seven games coming against Clermont in Europe. Bristol have lost only once at home in the league since December 2019.

Bath are without a win since December 5 and have beaten Bristol just once in the last five meetings of the old rivals. Their only previous victory at Ashton Gate in the Premiership was in March 2008.

Exeter Chiefs have lost their last two Gallagher Premiership fixtures, against Wasps and Bristol. They have lost only once in 16 previous fixtures against Worcester in Premiership Rugby, being edged out by a single point (6-5) at Sandy Park in February 2018.

London Irish v Newcastle Falcons Matthew Carley is in charge of his 101st Premiership game on Sunday as London Irish host the Falcons.

Irish have not won in the Gallagher Premiership since November, losing at their new home to Sale in the league and Pau in Europe.

Newcastle Falcons have lost just once since Cardiff Blues beat them at Kingston Park in mid-December and have not lost successive away games since their final two trips of the 2018-19 campaign. The Falcons have won their last three games against London Irish.

Gloucester Rugby v Northampton Saints Gloucester’s only win in their last six fixtures in all competitions was 38-24 at home to Ulster in Round 2 of the European Champions Cup. They have won only once at home in Premiership Rugby since September, beating Wasps 40-24 at the end of November.

Wasps v Harlequins

Northampton’s most recent match was the 29-10 victory over Worcester at Christmas, which ended a sequence of 12 successive defeats in all competitions. Saints are looking for a first away win since beating London Irish at the Stoop last August. They have beaten Gloucester just once in the last three years.

Wasps have won their last five matches in all competitions since a 27-17 defeat by Newcastle at the Ricoh Arena in December.

Worcester Warriors v Exeter Chiefs

Harlequins, who parted company with Paul Gustard earlier this month, have not won since Round 3.

They have, though, won their last five away games in Premiership Rugby, their best sequence in the competition since 2011.

Excluding the declared win against Harlequins in Round 5, Worcester Warriors chase a first win since beating London Irish by a single point at Sixways on November 21.

Both fixtures last season were won by the away side on the day. Quins’ only other victory at the Ricoh was in September 2017.

GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP TABLE

Pld

W

D

L

T

F

A

Pts

1

Bristol Bears

6

5

0

1

18

144

96

24

2

Newcastle Falcons

6

5

0

1

14

100

81

20

3

Exeter Chiefs

6

4

0

2

22

148

93

20

4

Sale Sharks

6

4

0

2

12

131

109

19

5

Wasps

6

4

0

2

23

176

159

19

6

Leicester Tigers

6

3

0

3

8

96

103

15

7

Harlequins

6

2

1

3

14

132

140

14

8

Northampton Saints

6

2

0

4

12

98

109

13

9

Bath Rugby

6

2

0

4

14

123

164

12

10

London Irish

6

1

1

4

7

72

68

12

11

Worcester Warriors

6

2

0

4

7

64

122

9

12

Gloucester Rugby

6

1

0

5

15

128

168

6

Proud to support Leicester Tigers

360°

32

D

T

C

P

D Pos

FORD

P

ENEVER

C

DIAZ BONILLA

T

DE BRUIN

DEFENCE

Result

COLE

HT

COGHLAN

ATTACK Att

CLARE

Opponents

CHESSUM

V

BRINK

Date Comp

BOWER

SEASON STATS 2020-21

ASPLAND-ROBINSON

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

NOVEMBER 2020 Sat 21

GPR

H

Gloucester Rugby

-

22-08

● 38-15

4

3

4

-

2

1

1

-

2

Sun 29

GPR

A

London Irish (Sun 4.15)

-

03-13

● 09-22

-

-

3

-

1

1

5

-

6

5

5 6

DECEMBER 2020 Sat 5

GPR

H

Exeter Chiefs

-

08-22

● 13-35

1

1

2

-

5

5

-

-

8

Fri 11

ECC

H

Brive (Fri 7:45)

-

14-06

● 39-17

4

2

5

-

1

-

4

-

4

Sat 19

ECC

A

Bayonne (8pm)

-

17-13

● 28-20

3

2

3

-

2

2

2

-

4

Sat 26

GPR

A

Newcastle Falcons (2pm)

-

-

C-C

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

5

9

10

JANUARY 2021 Sun 3

GPR

H

Bath Rugby (Sun 3pm)

-

14-6

● 36-31

3

3

5

-

3

2

4

-

7

Sat 9

GPR

A

Northampton Saints (4.30pm)

-

-

C-C

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Fri 15

ECC

H

Bayonne (7:45pm)

-

-

C-C

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W/O 22

ECC

A

Brive

-

-

C-C

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Fri 29

GPR

H

Sale Sharks (7:45pm)

FEBRUARY 2021 Sat 6

GPR

H

Worcester Warriors

Sat 13

GPR

A

Harlequins (4.00pm)

Sat 20

GPR

H

Wasps

W/O 26

GPR

A

Bristol Bears

MARCH 2021 W/O 5

GPR

H

London Irish

W/O 12

GPR

A

Gloucester Rugby

W/O 19

GPR

A

Exeter Chiefs

W/O 26

GPR

H

Newcastle Falcons

APRIL 2021 W/O 2

ECC

W/O 9

ECC

Round of 16

W/O 16

GPR

A

Bath Rugby

W/O 23

GPR

H

Northampton Saints

W/O 30

ECC

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

May 2021 W/O 7

GPR

A

Sale Sharks

W/O 14

GPR

H

Harlequins

Fri 21

ECC

W/O 28

GPR

A

Worcester Warriors

Final at Marseille

JUNE 2021 W/O 4

GPR

H

Bristol Bears

W/O 12

GPR

A

Wasps

W/O 18

GPR

Semi-finals

Sat 26

GPR

Final at Twickenham GPR ECC PRC

Gallagher Premiership Rugby European Challenge Cup Premiership Rugby Cup

TOTAL

15 11 22 0 14 11 16 0

21

1 5

13 5

Started match

0 5

5

Used as a replacement

13

5

Bench (not used)

5

5

3 5 5

8 5

5 5

5

Points scored in match 5

PENALTY TRY

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

T.YOUNGS

B.YOUNGS

WORTH

WILLIAMS

WEISE

WIGGLESWORTH

WHITE

WELLS

WALLACE

VAN WYK

VAN POORTVLIET

TAUTE

TAUFUA

STEWARD

SMITH

SIMMONS

SCOTT

REFFELL

POTTER

PORTER

OLOWOFELA

NADOLO

MURIMURIVALU

MORONI

MARTIN

MAMUKASHVILI

McPHILLIPS

MONTOYA

LIEBENBERG

LEWIS

LEATIGAGA

LAVANINI

KERR

KELLY

HEYES

HENRY

HENDERSON

HARDWICK

GREEN

GIGENA

GENGE

FORD

33

34

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

PLAYER STATS 2020-21

NAME Sam ASPLAND-ROBINSON Ryan BOWER Cyle BRINK Ollie CHESSUM Charlie CLARE Jordan COGHLAN Dan COLE Luan DE BRUIN Joaquín DÍAZ BONILLA Blake ENEVER George FORD Ellis GENGE Facundo GIGENA Calum GREEN Tom HARDWICK Cameron HENDERSON Zack HENRY Joe HEYES Dan KELLY Jake KERR Tomás LAVANINI Henri LAVIN Jonny LAW Nephi LEATIGAGA Sam LEWIS Hanro LIEBENBERG Shalva MAMUKASHVILI

APPS 1+2 2+3 1 1+5 4+1 0+1 1+3 0+1 1+1 1+1 1 4+1 1+1 4 2+4 1+1 0+1 2 3+2 5 -

STATS 2020-21 TRIES 1 1 1 1 -

PTS 5 20 31 5 5 37 5 -

APPS 8+6 4+9 2+3 4 5+14 7+4 190+57 0+1 1+3 4+2 82+16 59+20 16+29 36+10 3+4 9+3 21+31 3+2 15+30 19+2 0+1 0+2 7+27 10+11 18+2 0+1

TIGERS TOTAL TRIES 2 1 3 8 7 1 1 3 1 2 1 2 1 -

PTS 10 5 15 20 931 35 5 5 15 68 5 10 5 10 5 -

35

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

NAME Johnny McPHILLIPS George MARTIN Matias MORONI Kini MURIMURIVALU Nemani NADOLO Jordan OLOWOFELA Guy PORTER Harry POTTER Tommy REFFELL Matt SCOTT Harry SIMMONS Thom SMITH Freddie STEWARD Jordan TAUFUA Jaco TAUTE Jack VAN POORTVLIET Kobus VAN WYK Luke WALLACE Harry WELLS James WHITCOMBE Ben WHITE Jasper WIESE Richard WIGGLESWORTH David WILLIAMS George WORTH Ben YOUNGS Tom YOUNGS

APPS 1 1 2+1 2 3+2 2 2+2 4 2 5 2+2 5 0+2 3 0+2 5+1 0+1 2+3 5 3 1+1 5

STATS 2020-21 TRIES 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2

PTS 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 10

APPS 2+6 3+1 1 5+1 7 30+11 7+3 7+1 19+13 10 10+14 5+5 13+4 11+7 15+2 3+4 4 5+5 55+50 0+1 27+40 5 3 3+1 41+21 203+51 159+40

TIGERS TOTAL TRIES 1 1 3 6 2 4 1 2 3 3 1 1 4 6 1 1 3 38 20

PTS 20 5 15 30 10 20 5 10 18 15 5 5 20 30 5 5 25 210 100

O P E N D AY S d m u . a c . u k /o p e n d a y s

S AT 13 FE B

S AT 13 MAR

37

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

– LAST TIME OUT – LEICESTER TIGERS 36-31 BATH RUGBY Sunday January 3, 2021 / Gallagher Premiership Round 5 Attendance: Closed doors / Referee: Mr Wayne Barnes LEICESTER TIGERS 15 Freddie Steward 14 Kobus van Wyk 13 Jaco Taute 12 Matt Scott 11 Nemani Nadolo 10 George Ford 9 Ben Youngs

T

3C / 5P

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Ellis Genge Tom Youngs (c) Dan Cole Harry Wells Calum Green George Martin Hanro Liebenberg Jasper Wiese

Leicester Tigers fought back from an early 14-point deficit to beat Bath Rugby with tries from Freddie Steward, Harry Wells and Cameron Henderson, plus 21 points from George Ford.

A bizarre score from Beno Obano, when Tigers thought they had possession from a defensive lineout, and a solo score from Ben Spencer gave the visitors a perfect start and Tigers a mountain to climb.

But two penalties from Ford and a clinical finish from Steward provided fresh hope and a long-range kick brought the half to a close with the Bath lead cut to 16-17.

The second half began with a try from Wells, finishing on the left after smart work from Nemani Nadolo, to put Tigers ahead for the first time but the scores were level at 26-26 entering the final quarter of an enthralling game before Henderson stretched out to score from close range.

Bath were still not done, adding a third try of their own from Cameron Redpath before Tigers closed the game out to seal the points to move up to seventh in the table.

T

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Charlie Clare Nephi Leatigaga Joe Heyes Cameron Henderson Luke Wallace Jack van Poortvliet Zack Henry Kini Murimurivalu

NOTEBOOK… The 201st meeting of the clubs…

Both clubs returned from Covidenforced breaks, with Tigers having the trip to Newcastle cancelled at Christmas and Bath unable to play their last two games… Steve Borthwick was among the absentees as he continued isolating at home…

First start of the season for

T

BATH: Watson, Rokoduguni, Joseph, Redpath, McConnochie, Priestland, Spencer; Obano, Dunn, Stuart, McNally, Ewels (c), Faletau, Underhill, Mercer. Reps: Walker, Schoeman, Judge, Stooke, Bayliss, Reid, Chudley, Matavesi

George Ford, Ellis Genge and Ben Youngs… George Martin’s return from injury.

QUOTE...

“We didn’t help ourselves early on but the resilience and mental application to get back into the game was great.”

George Ford

C

M

Y

M

Y

Y

Y

K

£52

PLAY. WIN. SUPPORT.

leicestertigers.com/lotto

41

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

CHALLENGE CUP PRELIMINARY STAGE

UPDATE

Spotlight on how things stand in the preliminary stage after two rounds After the French authorities announced that participation of its Top14 clubs “constitutes too great a public health risk”, EPCR suspended play in the European club tournaments.

In a statement, EPCR said: “While respecting all further directives by governments and local authorities, and prioritising the health and welfare of players and club staff, EPCR, in conjunction with its shareholder leagues and unions, remains committed to trying to find a solution which will enable it to resume and complete the tournaments as soon as practicable.”

Tigers, with wins in each of the opening two rounds, had been due to host Bayonne and then travel to Brive this month in the preliminary stages of the European Challenge Cup. But against the detection of a new strain of Coronavirus, the French government directed that its clubs postpone their participation for the month of January.

On that basis, EPCR had no choice but to temporarily suspend the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup. As part of a new look for this season due to the pandemic’s ongoing impact, teams were scheduled to play only four games in the pool stage before going into a Round of 16 in April.

At that stage, the top four Challenge Cup clubs would be ranked 1-4 and have home advantage.

The eight Heineken Champions Cup clubs who move into the Challenge Cup would be numbered 5-12, with the best four at home, while the four remaining Challenge Cup clubs would be ranked 13-16.

The clubs await an update on the format for the remainder of both tournaments.

Pld

W

D

L

F

A

T

Pts

London Irish

2

2

0

0

60

25

9

10

Ospreys

2

2

0

0

77

44

6

10

Cardiff Blues

2

2

0

0

61

20

7

9

Leicester Tigers

2

2

0

0

67

37

7

9

Zebre Rugby

2

1

1

0

43

41

5

6

Agen

2

1

0

1

36

34

5

5

Benetton

2

1

0

1

44

48

7

5

Newcastle Falcons

2

1

0

1

46

50

5

4

Pau

2

1

0

1

41

46

5

4

Bayonne

2

0

1

1

45

53

5

2

Worcester Warriors

2

0

0

2

49

62

6

2

Brive

2

0

0

2

33

57

2

1

Castres Oly

2

0

0

2

32

65

5

0

Stade Français

2

0

0

2

20

72

3

0

HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP POOL STAGE POOL A

Pld

W

D

L

F

A

T

Pts

Leinster

2

2

0

0

70

33

9

10

Wasps

2

2

0

0

57

22

9

10

Bordeaux-Begles

2

2

0

0

63

20

8

9

La Rochelle

2

2

0

0

41

8

6

9

Scarlets

2

2

0

0

51

19

6

9

Edinburgh

2

1

0

1

24

28

2

5

RC Toulon

2

1

0

1

26

42

2

4

Sale Sharks

2

0

0

2

29

42

4

1

Northampton Saints

2

0

0

2

31

51

3

1

Bath Rugby

2

0

0

2

19

51

2

1

Montpellier

2

0

0

2

28

68

3

0

Dragons

2

0

0

2

16

71

2

0

POOL B

Pld

W

D

L

F

A

T

Pts

Lyon

2

2

0

0

83

10

12

10

Racing 92

2

2

0

0

75

29

11

10

Toulouse

2

2

0

0

57

22

8

10

Munster

2

2

0

0

60

38

5

8

ASM Clermont Auv

2

1

0

1

82

77

11

6

Bristol Bears

2

1

0

1

65

69

9

6

Exeter Chiefs

2

1

0

1

42

28

6

5

Gloucester

2

1

0

1

48

89

6

5

Ulster

2

0

0

2

56

67

7

3

Connacht

2

0

0

2

40

53

5

1

Harlequins

2

0

0

2

14

70

2

0

Glasgow Warriors

2

0

0

2

0

70

0

0

42

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

SAFE PROGRESS

Here’s a recap on how Tigers got themselves into a position to win the club’s first European Cup back in 2001 with a steady run through the pool stages The 2020-21 season marks the 20th anniversary of Leicester Tigers’ first European title and the club is hosting a special evening on May 19 to commemorate the occasion.

As part of the build-up, Tigers will be sharing archive footage, interviews with former players and looking back at the road to victory.

Hosted in partnership with Switch the Play Foundation, a charity co-founded by European Cup hero Leon Lloyd which supports all sportspeople in transition into life outside of sport, supporters can book their place now on the Events section of the club website - you’ll find it under the Supporters & Club tab. Or you can pay a 20-per-

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

cent deposit to secure your place for the occasion by emailing tina@thesportingclub.co Lloyd, of course, played a starring role in the final against a Stade Français team playing in their home city, as his second try of the afternoon in the 78th minute put Tigers in a position to win the game.

Tim Stimpson added a touchline conversion to provide the extra breathing space on the scoreboard as the clock ticked down.

But how did Tigers cement their place in European rugby history?

Tigers were sitting second in the Premiership table going into the opening month of European fixtures at the start of October 2000, uncharacteristically on the back of a loss to Bristol and a 17-17 draw against Sale Sharks.

But the team hit the road running with a crowd of more than 12,000 supporters watching them put 46 points on French visitors Pau in the opening game in Pool 6.

A 33-21 away win over Glasgow Caledonians followed to give Tigers maximum points from their opening games. But it wasn’t all plain sailing from there.

An 18-11 loss to Welsh outfit Pontypridd in front of a 6,500 Sardis Road crowd made for an interesting return match eight days later.

43

Almost 14,000 were at Welford Road as the metronomic boot of Tim Stimpson and a try from Austin Healey brought them through to a 27-19 win, which put Tigers in top spot with just two pool fixtures to come during January.

Pau, who were rivals for top spot in the pool, welcomed Leicester to the Stade du Hameau in the south of France in a game that could see them top of the group.

With a partisan crowd of just over 7,000 fans in attendance, it was the flanker Neil Back who scored the game’s only try in the 18th minute and Stimpson added his usual points from the tee. Fly-half Andy Goode also added two drop goals in a 20-3 win which put Tigers back in the driving seat.

With qualification secured, the final fixture in Pool 6 was against Glasgow Caledonians and Tigers ran out to win 41-26 and earn a place as second seeds in the draw for the quarter-finals taking place just a week later.

NEXT UP FOR TIGERS In these pages next week, when Tigers welcome Worcester Warriors in Round 8 of the Gallagher Premiership, we will relive how the class of 2000-01 took on Swansea at home in a quarterfinal showdown.

44

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

Andrea Pinchen

FROM THE BOARDROOM Tigers chief executive officer Andrea Pinchen on the twists and turns of the 2020-21 season so far.

What goes on behind the scenes when we’ve had three weeks without matches, almost a year without fans and the stadium offices remaining closed?

Weekly and sometimes twice-weekly Covid-19 testing has become the norm at Oval Park, which is not something any of us would have said the first few times those swabs made an appearance! Sociallydistanced training, PHE, hand sanitiser by the gallon, Zoom training sessions and video messaging from the strength and conditioning coaches to the players - this is rugby in the age of a global pandemic.

Non-essential staff are all working from home, like a lot of you, bringing with it all the challenges of home schooling and wi-fi working overtime as everyone joins Zoom or Teams meetings at the same time under one roof.

With one eye focused on getting us through this situation and another on ensuring we are in a strong position to pick up on ‘regular’ business once we are allowed to, adaptability has become one of the most important lessons for us all to learn.

For the players, you may think it has been a challenge to maintain their impetus in training, with games being cancelled, training at home and

having to maintain the high standards of fitness levels.

Managing the highs of preparing to face our ‘friends’ and neighbours Northampton Saints, coupled with the lows of the game being called off, understandably could have resulted in losing some of that drive.

your club, has risen to these challenges, improving each day, pushing each other on and creating an environment for the players and staff to thrive.

All that remains is for us to show this to you, our fans, through the medium of television at the moment, but at some time soon in person, and to thank

No let-up in the workrate

But the atmosphere at Oval Park, in the coaches’ room, in the team room and across the whole staff, is one of excitement, optimism and pride in how everyone is pulling together and driving forward.

Is the environment challenging - yes. Are standards set extremely high - yes. But the most rewarding and exciting part of all of this is how this club,

you for all of your support in whatever guise that may be.

Your encouragement and optimism is as vital to us now as it ever has been, and we’d like to thank each and every one of you - what an atmosphere it’ll be when Mattioli Woods Welford Road opens its doors again.

I can’t wait!

Stay safe and we hope to see you soon.

46

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

CLUB PARTNERS

Welcome and thank you to all of our partners for the 2020-21 season...

MAIN PARTNER

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

OFFICIAL PAR TNERS

A S S O C I AT E P A R T N E R S

OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS

TE AM TECHNICAL SUPPLIER

47

48

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

THE

TIGERS TEAM T H E M A N AG E M E N T T E A M

STEVE BORTHWICK Position: Head Coach

ALED WALTERS Position: Head of Physical Performance

BRETT DEACON Position: Assistant Coach

SIMON BARBOUR Position: Head of Analysis

TERESA CARRINGTON Position: Team Manager

MIKE FORD Position: Assistant Coach

49

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

F I R S T-T E A M S Q U A D

SAM ASPLAND-ROBINSON

RYAN BOWER

CYLE BRINK

CHARLIE CLARE

Position: Wing

Position: Prop

Position:

Back row

Position: Hooker

Born: 03/01/97

Born: 25/02/91

Born: 16/01/94

Born: 16/12/91

Height:

1.83m/6ft 0in

Height:

1.86m /6ft 1in

Height:

1.91m/6ft 3in

Height:

1.83m/6ft 0in

Weight:

94kg/14st 8lb

Weight:

108kg/17st 2lb

Weight:

114kg/18st 5lb

Weight:

110 kg/17st 4lb

ACADEMY GRADUATE

ACADEMY GRADUATE

S P O N S O R E D BY:

S P O N S O R E D BY:

S P O N S O R E D BY:

S P O N S O R E D BY:

JORDAN COGHLAN

DAN COLE

LUAN DE BRUIN

JOAQUIN DIAZ BONILLA

Back row

Position: Prop

Position: Prop

Position: Fly-half

Born: 30/10/92

Position:

Born: 09/05/87

Born:

13/12/93

Born: 02/04/89

Height:

1.95m/6ft 4in

Height:

1.91m/6ft 3in

Height:

1.83m/6ft 0in

Height: 1.78m/5ft10in

Weight:

113kg/17st 11lb

Weight:

123kg/19st 5lb

Weight:

125kg/19st 11lb

Honours: England/Lions

Weight:

80kg/12st 8lb

Honours: Argentina

ACADEMY GRADUATE S P O N S O R E D BY:

S P O N S O R E D BY:

S P O N S O R E D BY:

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LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

F I R S T-T E A M S Q U A D

BLAKE ENEVER

GEORGE FORD

ELLIS GENGE

FACUNDO GIGENA

Position: Lock

Position: Fly-half

Position: Prop

Position: Prop

Born: 12/10/91

Born: 16/03/93

Born: 16/02/95

Born: 15/09/94

Height:

2.01m/6ft 7in

Height:

1.78m/5ft 10in

Height:

1.86m/6ft 1in

Height:

1.83m/6ft 0in

Weight:

114kg/17st 1lb

Weight:

86kg/13st 7lb

Weight:

117kg/18st 6lb

Weight:

111kg/17st 6lb

Honours: Australia

Honours: England

Honours: England

Honours: Argentina

ACADEMY GRADUATE S P O N S O R E D BY:

S P O N S O R E D BY:

CALUM GREEN

TOM HARDWICK

ZACK HENRY

JOE HEYES

Position: Lock

Position: Fly-half/Centre

Position: Fly-half

Position: Prop

Born: 15/07/90

Born: 24/03/99

Born: 01/10/94

Born: 13/04/99

Height:

1.93m/6ft 4in

Height:

1.75m/5ft 9in

Height:

1.83m/6ft 0in

Height:

1.93m/6ft 4in

Weight:

119kg/18st 12lb

Weight:

94kg/14st 13lb

Weight:

89kg/14st 0lb

Weight:

126kg/19st 12lb

ACADEMY GRADUATE S P O N S O R E D BY:

ACADEMY GRADUATE

ACADEMY GRADUATE

51

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

F I R S T-T E A M S Q U A D

JAKE KERR

TOMAS LAVANINI

NEPHI LEATIGAGA

SAM LEWIS

Position: Hooker

Position: Lock

Position: Prop

Position: Lock/Flanker

Born: 13/04/96

Born: 22/01/93

Born: 09/12/93

Born: 27/04/98

Height:

1.85m/6ft 1in

Height:

2.01m/6ft 7in

Height:

1.93m/6ft 4in

Height:

1.95m/6ft 5in

Weight:

105kg/16st 7lb

Weight:

130kg/20st 7lb

Weight:

149kg/23st 6lb

Weight:

110kg/17st 4lb

Honours: Scotland

Honours: Argentina

Honours: Samoa ACADEMY GRADUATE S P O N S O R E D BY:

HANRO LIEBENBERG Position:

SHALVA MAMUKASHVILI

JOHNNY McPHILLIPS

JULIÁN MONTOYA

Back row

Position: Hooker

Position: Fly-half/Centre/Full-back

Position: Hooker

Born: 10/10/95

Born: 02/10/90

Born: 13/03/97

Born: 29/10/93

Height:

1.97m/6ft 5 in

Height:

1.80m/5ft 11in

Height:

1.80m/5ft 11in

Height:

1.83m/6ft 0in

Weight:

110kg/17st 4lb

Weight:

101kg/16st 9lb

Weight:

89kg/14st 0lb

Weight:

113kg/17st 11lb

Honours: Georgia

Honours: Argentina

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LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

F I R S T-T E A M S Q U A D

MATIAS MORONI

KINI MURIMURIVALU

NEMANI NADOLO

JORDAN OLOWOFELA

Position: Centre/Wing

Position: Full-back/Wing

Position: Wing/centre

Position: Wing/full-back

Born: 10/07/91

Born: 15/05/89

Born: 31/01/88

Born: 17/04/98

Height:

1.83m/6ft 0in

Height:

1.75m/5ft 9in

Height:

1.96m/6ft 5in

Height:

1.88m / 6ft 2in

Weight:

83kg/13st 5lb

Weight:

83kg/13st 5lb

Weight:

120kg/19st 5lb

Weight:

92kg / 14st 7lb

Honours: Argentina

Honours: Fiji

Honours: Fiji ACADEMY GRADUATE S P O N S O R E D BY:

S P O N S O R E D BY:

MATT SCOTT

GUY PORTER

HARRY POTTER

TOMMY REFFELL

Position: Centre/Wing

Position: Wing

Position: Flanker

Position: Centre

Born: 23/01/97

Born: 15/12/97

Born: 27/04/99

Born: 30/09/90

Height:

1.85m/6ft 1lb

Height:

1.85m/6ft 1in

Height:

1.84m / 6ft 0in

Height:

1.85m/6ft 1in

Weight:

95kg/15st 1lb

Weight:

89kg/14st 13lb

Weight:

103kg / 16st 3lb

Weight:

101kg/15st 12lb

Honours: Scotland ACADEMY GRADUATE

53

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

F I R S T-T E A M S Q U A D

HARRY SIMMONS

JACO TAUTE

KOBUS VAN WYK

LUKE WALLACE

Position: Scrum-half

Position: Centre/Full-back

Position: Wing

Position: Flanker

Born: 25/11/97

Born: 21/03/91

Born: 22/01/92

Born: 02/10/90

Height:

1.81m/5ft 11in

Height:

1.91m/6ft 3 in

Height:

1.91m/6ft 3in

Height:

1.83m/6ft 0in

Weight:

90kg/14st 2lb

Weight:

108kg/17st 0lb

Weight:

98kg/15st 6lb

Weight:

100kg/15st 11lb

Honours:

South Africa

ACADEMY GRADUATE S P O N S O R E D BY:

S P O N S O R E D BY:

HARRY WELLS

BEN WHITE

JASPER WIESE

RICHARD WIGGLESWORTH

Position: Lock

Position: Scrum-half

Position:

Back row

Position: Scrum-half

Born: 29/09/93

Born: 27/05/98

Born: 21/10/95

Born: 09/06/83

Height:

1.96m/6ft 5in

Height:

1.81m/5ft 11in

Height:

1.91m/6ft 3ins

Height:

1.75m/5ft 9in

Weight:

110kg/17st 5lb

Weight:

87kg/13st 11lb

Weight:

116kg/18st 5lb

Weight:

83kg/13st 1lb

Honours: England ACADEMY GRADUATE

ACADEMY GRADUATE S P O N S O R E D BY:

S P O N S O R E D BY:

54

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

F I R S T-T E A M S Q U A D

GEORGE WORTH

BEN YOUNGS

TOM YOUNGS

Position: Centre/Full-back

Position: Scrum-half

Position: Hooker

Born: 08/10/96

Born: 05/09/89

Born: 28/01/87

Height:

1.86m/6ft 1in

Height:

1.79m/5ft 10in

Height:

1.75m/5ft 9in

Weight:

95kg/14st 13lb

Weight:

88kg/13st 12lb

Weight:

104kg/16st 5lb

ACADEMY GRADUATE

Honours: England/Lions

Honours: England/Lions

ACADEMY GRADUATE

ACADEMY GRADUATE

S P O N S O R E D BY:

S P O N S O R E D BY:

To sponsor a player or to receive more information on sponsoring a player please email Sales@tigers.co.uk

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

55

D E V E L O P M E N T S Q U A D

OLLIE ASHWORTH Position: Back row Born: 21/05/01 ACADEMY GRADUATE

JOE BROWNING Position: Wing/Centre Born: 14/04/01 ACADEMY GRADUATE

OLLIE CHESSUM Position: Back row Born: 06/09/00

OSMAN DIMEN Position: Prop Born: 30/09/98

SAM EDWARDS Position: Scrum-half Born: 14/06/02 ACADEMY GRADUATE

CAMERON HENDERSON Position: Lock Born: 13/01/00

EMEKA ILIONE Position: Back row Born: 20/03/02 ACADEMY GRADUATE

DAN KELLY Position: Centre Born: 16/01/01

HENRI LAVIN Position: Back row Born: 05/07/00 ACADEMY GRADUATE

JONNY LAW Position: Scrum-half Born: 19/12/00 ACADEMY GRADUATE

TOM MANZ Position: Lock Born: 09/07/01 ACADEMY GRADUATE

GEORGE MARTIN Position: Lock Born: 18/06/01 ACADEMY GRADUATE

JACK ROWNTREE Position: Prop Born: 06/05/02 ACADEMY GRADUATE

KIT SMITH Position: Back row Born: 29/09/01 ACADEMY GRADUATE

THOM SMITH Position: Back row Born: 02/12/1999 ACADEMY GRADUATE

FREDDIE STEWARD Position: Full-back Born: 05/12/00 ACADEMY GRADUATE

JACK VAN POORTVLIET Position: Scrum-half Born: 15/05/01 ACADEMY GRADUATE

ARCHIE VANES Position: Hooker Born: 16/09/01 ACADEMY GRADUATE

JAMES WHITCOMBE Position: Prop Born: 20/11/00 ACADEMY GRADUATE

56

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

LEICESTER TIGERS

COMMUNITY TEAM NOTTINGHAM BUILDING SOCIETY TAG RUGBY HOME CHALLENGE

The Tigers community team is continuing its support for primary school children and their families thanks to club partners at The Nottingham Building Society.

The NBS TAG Rugby programme has been running in schools, offering a mixture of practical TAG rugby fun delivery and classroom numeracy skills to primary education Years 3 and 4, and while we cannot currently attend schools, we have come up with some plans to maintain interaction.

Each week, we are publishing some rugby-themed Maths activities on the club website to try at home so you can take an NBS Tag Rugby Maths Challenge.

The first three weeks-worth are already on the Tigers website and Week 4 will be added on Monday morning, so keep a lookout.

These are meant to be fun, they are not a test, so go on, give them a go.

Working in the Leicestershire schools, Tigers’ NBS development officers deliver a high-intensity fun and physical activity programme which introduces young people to the game of rugby in a safe and easily managed format.

At a challenging time, the input from Tigers has been

there to support the great work of schools and their teachers.

The programme is designed to deliver 4-5 weeks of rugby activity and finish with a Tigers rugby-themed numeracy lesson to use the enthusiasm for the game to assist schools in bringing numbers to life.

The national lockdown has hit hard, especially with schools closed since New Year, but we are still determined to do what we can to support remote learning and give parents and young children some different challenges to help continue their personal development at home.

That is where the weekly NBS Numeracy Challenge comes in for primary school children who want to do a bit of research and have a go at the problems set by

our own NBS education manager, David McDonald.

Don’t worry if you can’t answer all the questions, or want to double-check your answers, you can always grab a parent and talk them through it!

Give it a go and take up the NBS Tag Rugby Maths Challenge. Simply search ‘NBS Maths’ on the club website at www.leicestertigers.com Although we are currently unable to go into schools, the Community team are still keen to book and confirm as many schools as possible for the summer term where we hope everyone will be able to join in the fun and challenge of NBS TAG Rugby.

For schools wishing to book a place or to find out more, email david.mcdonald@tigers.co.uk

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60

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

LEICESTER TIGERS

FOUNDATION NEWS

IT’S TIME TO GET INVOLVED IN A NEW GLOBAL CAMPAIGN

The Leicester Tigers Foundation has launched a Race Around the World Challenge to promote fitness and wellbeing while also linking with partner clubs across the globe.

Like many charities, the Foundation has been hit hard by the Covid pandemic, which has had an effect on many of the beneficiaries we support.

The new challenge allows any member of the #TigersFamily to join a virtual global race to keep active and healthy, while also raising much-needed funds for a charity which has already supported so many causes in its first five years.

Any funds you raise will go directly into kickstarting the Foundation’s inclusion and education courses which offer young people fresh opportunities and qualifications, allowing them to progress into a far more positive future.

All you need to do to join us is use your own exercise to count towards the club’s target of 24,901 miles / 40,075 kilometres to lap the world.

Tigers will be joined by representatives from Global Partner Clubs from KL Tigers in Malaysia, Bangkok Lions in Thailand, Delhi Hurricanes in India, RC Diok from the Netherlands, Rugby Colorno in Italy and Belgium’s Dendermonde RFC. Each club has its own Strava link to allow all participants to add their mileage and collectively find the first club to complete the distance and be crowned Tigers Foundation Round The World Challenge champions.

Whether you exercise by walking, running, cycling, rowing, or any form of distance-measured activity, you can join in and add your efforts to the Tigers total.

The challenge allows the #TigersFamily to engage and communicate with each other across the world, while also promoting exercise to stay fit and healthy whatever the circumstances we find ourselves in currently.

To get involved, just download the Strava app and search for the Leicester Tigers Foundation club page and then get moving. If you want to help raise funds, you can support the Foundation’s Just Giving page. And look out for regular updates from Tigers on how the club and its partners are clocking up the miles.

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LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

Matchday mascot

Supported by

Supported by retailers NEXT, the Junior Tigers Club is THE place for young fans to celebrate their support of Leicester Tigers.

Junior Membership is available now.

Sign up at www.leicestertigers.com/jtc

A big Junior Tigers welcome to Hayden Jarvis, today’s virtual matchday mascot.

Like all of us, Hayden will be supporting from home this week and has sent his good luck message to the team ahead of kick-off.

Do you want to be in with the chance of being our next virtual mascot? Buy a Junior Tigers Club membership for £35 and you will be entered into the draw for each home fixture. Membership benefits also include a bobble hat and goodie bag!

5 to Tackle 1. Who is the Tigers club captain?

2. Who makes their 200th club appearance today?

3. Which forward has already scored two tries this season?

4. Which current Tigers hooker has played for England and the Lions?

5. Which England scrum-half has more than 100 caps?

Did you know?

Ellis Genge was called into the England squad in the summer of 2016 after just one Premiership start for Tigers.

Hit the deck Who is the player captured at the bottom of a ruck in training at Oval Park?

Answers: Five to tackle: 1 Tom Youngs, 2 Tom Youngs, 3 Tom Youngs, 4 Tom Youngs 5 Ben Youngs; Hit the deck: Hanro Liebenberg.

Proud sponsors of the Junior Tigers Club

Sign-up to be part of the Junior Tigers Club for free by visiting www.leicestertigers.com/jtc

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LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

65

Matt Hampson

FOUNDATION An update from one of the club’s official charities...

The Matt Hampson Foundation celebrates its 10th anniversary year in 2021 and is calling on fans for support to continue its work with young people who have been seriously injured through sport.

Leicester Tigers player Taylor Gough suffered a spinal cord injury last summer and has since been receiving mentorship from Hambo and rehabilitation from the team at the Get Busy Living centre. Taylor has amazed everyone with his dedication to his recovery and the progress he’s made in such a short space of time and he continues to visit the centre as often as possible.

Taylor said: “I can’t actually put into words the positive impact that the Matt Hampson Foundation has had on my physical and mental well-being in such a short space of time.

“I’ve even walked unassisted for the first time with the help of the physio team - something I was told would be very unlikely to happen!”

Foundation chief executive Tommy Cawston said: “Tigers fans have been unrelenting in their support of Taylor and Matt, as well as the Foundation more widely over the past decade, and we’re so grateful to them and the club.

“We’ve all had a very challenging year and with the Coronavirus pandemic continuing into 2021, we need the fans’ support more than ever to continue the great work that we do.”

If you’d like to do a sponsored run, cycle ride or even buy any merchandise to help raise valuable funds for the Foundation, please contact abbie@hambo.co.uk.

66

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

Tigers History

JAN

ON THIS DAY 1887: The 0-0 stalemate at Kettering was among six draws in 16 completed games during the season.

1898: Bob Campbell and

Bertie Hills scored their first tries of the season in a 16-3 win over Manchester, with Harry Wilkinson adding two more to his total which reached 24 in 31 games by the end of the season.

1921: Percy Lawrie, who

would finish the season with 31 tries, scored the only points in a 13-3 defeat in front of an 8,000-strong crowd at Llanelly.

1927: Jimmy Nelson scored a try in the 13-6 defeat at Richmond. The scrum-half made his debut a week earlier in a win over the RAF but would never play for the club again.

1931: The RAF were beaten

25-6 at Welford Road in a Thursday fixture. Nine of that line-up also played in a 6-5 win over Percy Park two days later, with Jeff Hardwicke scoring in both games. The other scorers in the RAF game were Shirley Moore (2), Stan Saunders (2), Percy Clarke and John Llewelyn.

1948: LG ‘Digger’ Dermott

was among the scorers in a midweek win over the RAF. 1949: Twelve players who were part of a 12-5 win over the RAF donned their boots

again two days later but lost 9-6 at home to Rosslyn Park.

1953: Welsh centre Haydn

Thomas made the last of 105 appearances for the club - in his only game of the season - in a 12-11 defeat to the RAF. 1955: Frank Chawner, John

Elders and John Taylor were the tryscorers in a 19-12 win over Rosslyn Park.

1966: Back-rower Ian

Scattergood scored his only try for the club, in the last of his three appearances, in a 14-3 defeat at Llanelly.

1971: Matt O’Connor was born in Canberra, Australia.

After a playing career which included a Wallabies cap in 1994, he had two spells coaching with Tigers.

29 Tigers in second place. Tony Underwood scored for the fourth time in five games.

1997: A midweek game against Pontypridd in the Anglo-Welsh League was postponed and, alongside games with Bridgend and Neath, never played. The competition did not return.

2000: Tigers’ involvement in

the Tetley’s Bitter Cup lasted just one game as they were beaten 47-7 at London Irish.

2005: Graham Rowntree captained the team to a 32-17 win over NEC Harlequins, with scores from Austin Healey and Henry Tuilagi in front of a 16,815 capacity home crowd.

1972: Tigers beat Headingley

25-6 with tries from Eric Bann (2), John Duggan (2) and Peter Wheeler. Dave Whibley kicked the remaining points.

1977: Mick Newton and Peter

Wheeler scored as Tigers beat London Welsh 19-10, despite having prop Steve Redfern sent off.

1983: Dusty Hare kicked all of

the points in a 25-12 defeat at London Welsh in the 27th game of a mammoth season which featured 43 scheduled fixtures.

1994: Jez Harris kicked

seven penalties in a 28-8 win over Gloucester to keep

2010: Billy Twelvetrees

scored twice in a bonus-point win over Bath in the LV= Cup, in front of a 19,000 Friday night crowd.

2011: Boris Stankovich captained Tigers in a 35-10 Cup defeat at Exeter and scored his only try of the season in the last minute of the game.

Joe Cobden, Matt Everard and Pieter Myburgh all made their debuts.

Tigers v Sharks_Layout 1 11/01/2021 14:52 Page 1

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69

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

The teams met again at HQ in 2004, just months after a 3-3

The last meeting of Tigers and Sharks produced 71 points and seven tries, but historically the match-up has produced some notably lowscoring fixtures.

Back in 2004, the two teams set a Premiership record for fewest points with a 3-3 draw in tricky conditions at Heywood Road.

That mark has never been beaten in the league, though Wasps and Worcester have twice produced the same scoreline, most recently on New Year’s Day in 2012.

Sale and Tigers have twice fought out a game which featured just two scoring actions, the previous one also occurring at their old Heywood Road home, when Sale won a Cup game 7-0 in March 1973.

That was Leicester’s best run up in the National Knockout up to that point, following wins over Nuneaton, Bedford and neighbours Hinckley before travelling to the North-West.

Garry Adey and Peter Wheeler were among the team from that day who would go on to experience winning at Twickenham and lifting the Cup before the decade was out.

Tigers statistician Stuart Farmer notes that a 6-0 win away to Orrell in 1994 - thanks to two Jez Harris penalties - is the only league game other than that draw at Sale to register so few points.

Sale were also the opponents in the last single-score game featuring Tigers, when a Peter Wheeler penalty sealed a 3-0 victory in April 1971.

Scoreless draws were a common feature in the early years of rugby. Leicester’s firstever game, against Moseley back in 1880, ended 0-0, as did the first derby fixture with Northampton just weeks later.

The Tigers History Book, compiled by Stuart Farmer and David Hands, lists 77 such draws in the club’s history, with 70 them coming before 1945.

Stat Pack A LOOK AT SOME OF THE FACTS AND FIGURES BEHIND THE HEADLINES...

Just two of the remaining seven were at home and the most recent was against the Royal Navy in February 1978 when even players of the calibre of Adey, Bob Barker, John Duggan, Dave Forfar, Bleddyn Jones, Steve Kenney and captain Brian Hall were unable to find a breakthrough in appalling mud. Conditions were so poor, in fact, that the scheduled game against London Scottish four days later was called off.

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73

LEICESTER TIGERS v SALE SHARKS

FanZone

SNOWFALL PARK

Thanks to the groundstaff team for their efforts in overcoming the snow to prepare the Oval Park training ground this week and the pitch at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

BIRTHDAY WISHES

LEICESTER TIGERs

Happy birthday to our season ticket holders celebrating today. And to everyone who was expecting to see their birthday mention for the game’s original date tomorrow, we’ve included you too! Many Happy Returns.

JANUARY 29 • Richard Abbott • Ronnie Adams • Lexi Barlow • Finley Barton-Knott • Jack Bradbury • Seth Cardew • Dawn CavanaghHobbs • Anne Church • Kevin Conaron • Eddie Croft • Janet Egerton • Mark Flatman • Jeremy Hammond • Graham Harris • Simon Hudson • Natalie Hunt • Gillian Jones • Greg Jones

• Katie Lane • Marie McGowan • John Moore • Colin Parkinson • Neil Pascoe • Debbie Shepherd • Michael Statham • Fiona Sturzaker • Natalya Swaden • James Toone JANUARY 30 • Ian Adams • Paul Archer • Karen Ardron • Irene Areri • Ben Bagguley • Matthew Barwell • William Bayliss • Carolyn Bointon

• Terence Bond • Garry Boorman • Arthur Coebill • Rory Coebill • Melvyn Farthing • Peter Harris • Chris Hawley • Derek Hayward • John Hul • John Huntington • George Lines • Gareth Morse • Kevin Musson • Steven Norris • Holly Page • Sally Riches • Glenda Torrance • Nick Winks • Elizabeth Worrall • Tim Wright

VERSUS

SALE SHARKS

G A L L AG H E R P R E M I E R S H I P F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 29, 2021 K I C K- O F F 7.45 P M

PROGRAMME CREDITS Cover star: Tom Youngs Editorial: Gary Sherrard, Phil Warrington & Sam Williamson Photography: Dave Wainwright, Malcolm Couzens, Geoff Sellars & James Baylis for Tiger Images and the team at Getty Images Design and Production: Ignition Sports Media

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THE GALLAGHER WAY. SINCE 1927.

Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: Spectrum Building, 7th Floor, 55, Blythswood Street, Glasgow, G2 7AT. Registered in Scotland. Company Number: SC108909.

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FP1354-2020 Exp 01.12.2021 | ART UK-1896

WALL: MATRIX COLLECTION: BLACK GLOSS & MATT, ANTIQUE WHITE GLOSS & MATT UK’s No 1 Tile Specialist based on £ turnover within the domestic tile sector.

98% customer satisfaction based on 5 stars (89%) or 4 stars (9%) in our Tile Talk survey – 18,853 respondents, date range 27/11/2019-25/07/2020. *T&Cs Apply.