Leicester Tigers and Harlequins meet for the 199th time in more than 120 years of rivalry - and the 99th occasion at Welford Road - on Sunday. Kick-off is at 3.15pm.
The two clubs met for the first time in the 1895/96 season, with Quins winning 6-0 on that occasion, and are now on the verge of a double century of encounters.
Just two points separate the teams in the Aviva Premiership table going into Round 8, with Tigers in fourth place and Quins in sixth, both with four wins and three defeats on the record so far.
Last season’s Welford Road encounter was settled with a late try from Tigers back rower Laurence Pearce after Owen Williams had prodded a penalty kick into the right-hand corner from a seemingly impossible angle. Click here for all the details of that 22-19 victory in the opening home game of the World Cup season.
Premiership champions in 2011/12 – after beating Tigers 30-23 in the Final at Twickenham – Quins are now led by John Kingston, who succeeded Conor O’Shea as director of rugby, and have former Tigers favourite Graham Rowntree as part of the coaching team.
Tigers recall skipper Tom Youngs at hooker and back-rower Tom Croft makes his first league appearance of the season on Sunday, while Quins include England wing Marland Yarde after playing in the opening autumn Test against South Africa last weekend.
Director of rugby Richard Cockerill says Tigers now enter a crucial period of the season with three league games ahead of the European Champions Cup dates with Munster.
“The next three weeks will have a big say in where everyone gets to at the end of the campaign,” Cockerill said. “It was good to bounce back with two wins in the Anglo-Welsh Cup after the defeat at Saracens and this is a very important part of the season over the next few weeks.”
Referee on Sunday is Craig Maxwell-Keys.
Welford Road is preparing to welcome the biggest crowd of the season so far with 25,000 tickets sold. Remaining tickets are on general sale. Supporters can book in person at Welford Road or phone 0116 319 8888 (option 2) 9am-5pm Monday-Saturday or from 9am on matchday this weekend. Or click here to book online any time.
For a full matchday guide to what’s in store, click here.
The two clubs met for the first time in the 1895/96 season, with Quins winning 6-0 on that occasion, and are now on the verge of a double century of encounters.
Just two points separate the teams in the Aviva Premiership table going into Round 8, with Tigers in fourth place and Quins in sixth, both with four wins and three defeats on the record so far.
Last season’s Welford Road encounter was settled with a late try from Tigers back rower Laurence Pearce after Owen Williams had prodded a penalty kick into the right-hand corner from a seemingly impossible angle. Click here for all the details of that 22-19 victory in the opening home game of the World Cup season.
Premiership champions in 2011/12 – after beating Tigers 30-23 in the Final at Twickenham – Quins are now led by John Kingston, who succeeded Conor O’Shea as director of rugby, and have former Tigers favourite Graham Rowntree as part of the coaching team.
Tigers recall skipper Tom Youngs at hooker and back-rower Tom Croft makes his first league appearance of the season on Sunday, while Quins include England wing Marland Yarde after playing in the opening autumn Test against South Africa last weekend.
Director of rugby Richard Cockerill says Tigers now enter a crucial period of the season with three league games ahead of the European Champions Cup dates with Munster.
“The next three weeks will have a big say in where everyone gets to at the end of the campaign,” Cockerill said. “It was good to bounce back with two wins in the Anglo-Welsh Cup after the defeat at Saracens and this is a very important part of the season over the next few weeks.”
Referee on Sunday is Craig Maxwell-Keys.
Welford Road is preparing to welcome the biggest crowd of the season so far with 25,000 tickets sold. Remaining tickets are on general sale. Supporters can book in person at Welford Road or phone 0116 319 8888 (option 2) 9am-5pm Monday-Saturday or from 9am on matchday this weekend. Or click here to book online any time.
For a full matchday guide to what’s in store, click here.
