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Tigers go to Academy League Finals Day

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Leicester Tigers Under-18s face Bath Rugby on the National Academy League Finals Day at Allianz Park on Monday afternoon.Allianz Park, home of Saracens, hosts the play-offs as the teams from north and south divisions come together for the last day of their league programme.   Tigers finished second in the northern section after losing just once in their campaign, which finished with a 25-25 draw away to Newcastle Falcons last Saturday.   They had previously beaten Gloucester, Worcester Warriors, Sale Sharks and Yorkshire Carnegie, losing only to Northampton Saints.   They will now face Bath Rugby, who were runners-up in the southern section, on Finals Day at Allianz Park on Monday. Kick-off is at 3pm.   Academy assistant manager Tosh Askew said: “We were disappointed not to win the last game at Newcastle after establishing a good lead with some really good rugby in the first half. But we took three points out of the game to finish second in our league and, with some 16-year-olds in the team, we were able to give some young players exposure to this competition for the first time.   “Bath beat Exeter to finish second on points difference in the southern division and it should be an interesting play-off match on Finals Day.   “The league is getting better all the time and that is exactly what we want to see. The opportunity to play in a different environment against different opponents is also important in terms of player development.”   Mike Hynard, head of academies and development at Premiership Rugby, says Finals Day provides the perfect platform for clubs to showcase their young talent.   "It is a really good spectacle of the best under-18s in the country," he said. "That is why we set up the event – to give our best young players the chance to play with and against the best in the country, and the Finals Day offers that.”    Entry to the Under-18 Finals Day is free, gates open at 11.30am. The opening game at 1pm is the third-place shoot-out between Gloucester and Exeter Chiefs, followed by Tigers versus Bath at 3pm. Northampton Saints face Saracens in the title decider at 5pm.