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'Unforgettable' day at the home of Tigers

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Young players at a Leicestershire rugby club joined Tigers for an unforgettable start to the new Aviva Premiership season.

The players at Vipers RFC provided the Guard of Honour for Sunday’s game against Worcester Warriors, welcoming Tigers onto the Welford Road pitch for the start of their title defence.

They also took part in a lap of honour at half-time and had their photographs taken on the pitch with Tigers and Tonga forward Steve Mafi and watched Vereniki Goneva secure a bonus-point victory with a last-minute try.

It was all part of a memorable occasion for the 140 players and parents, which began earlier in the day with a five mile charity walk from the Vipers ground in Whetstone to the home of Tigers.

The walkers were raising money for the Matt Hampson Foundation, Help For Heroes and the Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance, as well as club funds. It followed a similar charity walk to the home game against Gloucester Rugby in March 2012.

“It was a wonderful day,” said Lee Gilbert, chairman of the Vipers junior development committe, said. “The kids spent most of the way singing – it was something to see! We had a lot of onlookers and well-wishers on the way, which was great.

“My son said to me that he couldn’t believe it and to have the Tigers players running past him was something he will never forget.

“We are all volunteers and to have comments like that, from your son or anybody else, is priceless and means the hard work is worthwhile.”

The Guard of Honour is just one of the many ways that groups can share in the excitement and atmosphere of a Tigers matchday. They also include our new half-time Big Boot competition and Rugby Tours as well as the Shirt Shake and Matchday Coaching Clinics

Every season we welcome thousands of supporters on Group Days from schools and colleges, workplaces and rugby clubs as well as friends enjoying a celebration or a reunion.

To book a Group Day or for more information contact our Group Days team on 0116 217 1216 or click here