Leicester Tigers conclude a week's training camp in Italy with a pre-season fixture against regular European Cup rivals Benetton Treviso this evening (Friday).
Richard Cockerill welcomed England duo Ben Youngs and Dan Cole back to the club this week, while summer signing JP Pietersen flew in from South Africa to join his new team-mates on the trip.
The fixture represents the midpoint of the pre-season build-up, sandwiched by the two games against the Ospreys which began with a 26-21 defeat in Swansea a week ago. The Welsh side travel to Welford Road next Friday in the final game before the start of the Aviva Premiership season.
"We've started to get those international guys integrated again and it's good to have JP with us before the start of the season,” said director of rugby Richard Cockerill.
“It is a long season, especially for the international players, so we want to look after everyone. We’ll share the gametime around again against Treviso – we want everyone in top condition for that opening league game at Gloucester in two weeks’ time.
"Everyone had a good first run-out at the Ospreys last Friday, I thought fitness-wise we looked pretty good with a few weeks still to go to that first league game and we got a lot out of it.
“The camp has allowed us to have a bit more time together and we can look at the detail of where we are and keep working on our game with the season just a couple of weeks away.”
The Benetton Treviso squad includes Tiziano Pasquali, who came through the Tigers academy to spend the last two years with the first-team squad but who returned to Italy this summer. Former Tigers back-rower Robert Barbieri is unavailable to face his former team-mates due to injury.
Kick-off this evening is at 8.15pm local time.7.15pm UK time. You can keep up to date with the action from Treviso on the Tigers club website and social media. Treviso are also due to stream the game live via the internet. Click here for details.
Richard Cockerill welcomed England duo Ben Youngs and Dan Cole back to the club this week, while summer signing JP Pietersen flew in from South Africa to join his new team-mates on the trip.
The fixture represents the midpoint of the pre-season build-up, sandwiched by the two games against the Ospreys which began with a 26-21 defeat in Swansea a week ago. The Welsh side travel to Welford Road next Friday in the final game before the start of the Aviva Premiership season.
"We've started to get those international guys integrated again and it's good to have JP with us before the start of the season,” said director of rugby Richard Cockerill.
“It is a long season, especially for the international players, so we want to look after everyone. We’ll share the gametime around again against Treviso – we want everyone in top condition for that opening league game at Gloucester in two weeks’ time.
"Everyone had a good first run-out at the Ospreys last Friday, I thought fitness-wise we looked pretty good with a few weeks still to go to that first league game and we got a lot out of it.
“The camp has allowed us to have a bit more time together and we can look at the detail of where we are and keep working on our game with the season just a couple of weeks away.”
The Benetton Treviso squad includes Tiziano Pasquali, who came through the Tigers academy to spend the last two years with the first-team squad but who returned to Italy this summer. Former Tigers back-rower Robert Barbieri is unavailable to face his former team-mates due to injury.
Kick-off this evening is at 8.15pm local time.7.15pm UK time. You can keep up to date with the action from Treviso on the Tigers club website and social media. Treviso are also due to stream the game live via the internet. Click here for details.
