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De Montfort University extend Tigers link

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Leicester Tigers are delighted to welcome back De Montfort University on a three-year partnership as they expand their relationship with the club to include sponsorship of the Big Boot, a popular feature of matchdays at Welford Road.

A group from DMU Ladies Rugby team set the ball rolling on the new season when they joined The Big Boot challenge at last Friday’s final pre-season fixture against Cardiff Blues.
 
The Big Boot, part of Tigers Group Day opportunities, takes centre stage on the Welford Road pitch at half-time in first-team matches and fires rugby balls high into the air for teams of supporters to attempt to catch.
 
Starting with a £250 prize fund for a full set of 10 catches, the jackpot total reached £1,050 on Friday as teams of catchers from DMU Ladies and Stone Rugby Club went head to head.
 
The catchers from DMU were chosen by accompanying team coach John Phillips who said: “We’ve got our Fresher’s Fair in a few weeks so we thought it would be a great activity to do to showcase the team. I’d put money on some of these girls to make the catch but, after watching them, it is obviously harder than we thought. And I can’t believe our full-back hid from the ball!”
 
DMU, though, looked to be heading for a win in their head-to-head with Stone as they took an early lead through Lucy Pearson’s successful catch, only to be pipped to the post when their rivals made two late catches to take top spot in the early-season leaderboard.
 
Pearson said: “That was amazing. I never expected to catch it, but we caught one before the boys so even if we did lose I’m happy!”
 
John Bekalo, Stone RFC full-back, said: “The first guy to catch it has not actually played rugby before! He showed us up there. It was really enjoyable and definitely something we’ll talk about for the rest of the season.
 
“It’s the first time we’ve been down to Tigers as a group and we’ve had a great time. We’ve really enjoyed ourselves.”
 
The Big Boot sponsored by De Montfort University returns at half-time in every home game at Welford Road and is open to supporters as part of group bookings.
 
For more information please phone the Group Days Team at Tigers on 0116 217 1216 or email [email protected]