Ben White says adding a leadership role to his responsibilities at Leicester Tigers has given him a big boost in confidence.

The 20-year-old scrum-half led out Tigers in the Premiership Rugby Cup and has also taken over on-field captaincy during recent games despite his inexperience in top-flight rugby.

“It’s nice to have a leadership role and be trusted with that,” said White, who has been chosen by supporters as the Lumbers Player of the Month.

“It is a massive thing to be asked by Geordan and it is something I enjoy doing. I enjoy the responsibility.

“Tom Youngs is a great leader in the group and it’s almost about copying him – if you do that then you won’t go far wrong.”

White has made nine first-team appearances this season after playing a major part in England’s run to the Final of the World Under-20s Championships in the summer.

He has played a part in each of the last six fixtures and, after topping the voting for the Lumbers award, White said: “It’s nice to have the opportunities. The Premiership Cup gives you a couple of weeks together and a chance to show what you can do.

“The more you play, the more confident you get and more comfortable you feel in the team. It’s nice to be involved and I just want to keep improving. Ben Youngs is a world-class player and Sam Harrison has been playing really well, and it’s good to be able to learn from them both.”