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Hardwick eager to please on restart

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Leicester Tigers back Tom Hardwick has focused on ‘improving every bit he can’ during the lockdown-enforced pause in the rugby season.

“I’ve spent a lot of time learning.”

Tom Hardwick

Given fresh impetus by a new-look coaching team led by head coach Steve Borthwick, Tigers’ Gallagher Premiership campaign gets back under way this Saturday, August 15 at Exeter Chiefs (2.00pm kick-off).

And Hardwick, who operated at both 10 and 12 in the first half of the season, says he has used the break to build his game.

“I’ve spent a lot of time learning,” he said. “I have looked at games over and over again, trying to get better and keep improving every bit I can.

“We have players here that are great to learn from – Jaco Taute, Matt Scott, George Ford – players like that you can feed off them, it’s a perfect situation really.

“My focus has been on the discipline of playing rugby; more control and knowing when to play and when to be more tactical.

“Playing a lot in the last year gives me that experience and more knowledge of the game to make decisions.”

The 21-year-old also revealed how he has made the most from the coaching of Borthwick and new assistant coach Rob Taylor.

“Steve has been really good, his amount of detail is world class,” Hardwick said. “It’s like nothing I’ve seen before, and the players have really bought into his style.

“I want to work to get better and be that first-team player. I am competitive and that is what I want, to push myself to that. Rob has been really good as well.

“You can tap into their knowledge and go to work on that.”