Jump to Main ContentJump to Primary Navigation
leicestertigers.comMattioli Woods Welford RoadContact UsTopps Tiles
News

Who's who in the European Champions Cup

Figure image
Leicester Tigers have been drawn in Pool 4 of the European Rugby Champions Cup next season alongside Stade Francais, Munster and Treviso. Here is our guide to the pool rivals:Stade Francais Crowned Top 14 champions after victory over Clermont Auvergne in the French league final last Saturday, Stade will renew rivalry with Tigers for the first time since the 2006/07 European Cup quarter-finals. Tigers and Stade have met eight times in Europe’s top-flight tournament, including the famous 2001 Final at the Parc des Princes in Paris, when Leon Lloyd scored twice and Tim Stimpson kicked a last-gasp conversion to secure the title of European champions for the first time for Tigers. New signings for next season include Australia scrum-half Will Genia. Julien Dupuy, a European finalist with Leicester in 2009, shared in their Top 14 title triumph this season.   Munster Old rivals, Tigers and Munster first met in the 2002 European Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium, with Leicester winning to become the first team to retain the trophy. They also met in a quarter-final won by the visitors at Welford Road in 2003 and in the pool stages in 2006/07 when Munster won again on Tigers turf before Leicester historically turned the tables in Round 6 and became the first away team to win at Thomond Park in European competition. Munster were European champions in 2006 and 2008, after reaching finals in 2000 and 2002. Paul O’Connell has played his last game for Munster and has confirmed a move to Toulon, and other departures include former Tigers wing Johne Murphy and Northampton-bound fly-half JJ Hanrahan. The hooker Damien Varley announced his retirement in February. Signings for 2015/16 include Tomás O'Leary (London Irish) and Kiwi centre Francis Saili, and there is sure to be more recruitment this summer.   Treviso Drawn together three times in the last five seasons, there are further links between Tigers and Treviso with back-rower Robert Barbieri returning to the Italian club this summer after a season in England alongside his former Treviso colleagues Leonardo Ghiraldini, Michele Rizzo and Christian Loamanu. Former England second row Tom Palmer, Samoan lock Filo Paulo, Kiwi scrum-half Chris Smylie, French lock Jean Francois Montauriol and utility back Tommaso Iannone are among their signings for next season. International prop Alberto di Marchi and full-back Luke Mclean return to the club after a spell in the Aviva Premiership with Sale Sharks. Former Gloucester prop Rupert Harden has renewed his contract at the club too, though popular lock Corniel van Zyl is heading back to South Africa after almost a decade in Italian rugby. Former captain Antonio Pavanello becomes direct of rugby at the club this summer, working with head coach Marius Goosen.