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Tigers bring Christmas cheer to Leicester Hospitals

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Tigers players have been bringing some Christmas cheer to children during visits to Leicester Hospitals.

Captain Geordan Murphy and some of team-mates met patients, their families and nursing staff during visits to Leicester Royal Infirmary and the children’s heart unit at Glenfield Hospital.

Murphy was joined by Geoff Parling and Boris Stankovich at the LRI while Anthony Allen, Tom Croft, Mathew Tait and Ben Youngs visited the Glenfield Hospital. The players signed autographs, posed for photos and handed out some gifts as well.

Murphy said: “It’s a great honour to visit and a tremendously humbling experience.

"Christmas is a special time for everyone, especially children.  Many of the players have young families of their own, so these visits are very poignant.

“We hope that we can help bring some festive cheer to children who are facing Christmas in our local hospitals.

“It’s nice to speak to some of the parents whose children have been in for a while and break it up for them and it helps you appreciate the work that the doctors and nurses do.”

Stankovich added: “Coming up here and seeing the children reactions when they see Tigers players coming in.

“A lot of the families and the staff do follow rugby so it’s always good to see their faces as well. Sometimes I don’t know who is more excited to see us, the staff or the children!

“It’s an opportunity for them to meet us and for us to meet them and if we can bring a bit of happiness then it’s a good thing.”

Sally Markley, play co-ordinator at Leicester Children's Hospital, said: "We're delighted that Leicester Tigers are taking time out of their busy schedule to spend time with the children so close to Christmas. It’s a really special time for the children when they meet the players – plenty of smiles to the wards."