As the international season approaches its conclusion, Richard Cockerill says the selection of a large number of his squad for summer tours is a result of last season’s success when Tigers won the Guinness Premiership and reached the final of the Heineken Cup.
Tigers head coach Cockerill said: “We are a great team, we are a great club and we had a successful season. The result of that is that we have guys playing Test rugby.”
Academy graduates Tom Croft and Harry Ellis are in the British & Irish Lions matchday 22 to take on South Africa in the second Test in Pretoria on Saturday.
The final two games of the Lions tour will bring to an end a summer of international action that has seen fellow Academy product Sam Vesty make his international debut against Argentina in an England squad that also included George Chuter, Jordan Crane, Louis Deacon, Dan Hipkiss, Ben Kay, Lewis Moody and Julian White. Tigers teammate Marcos Ayerza lined up against them for the Pumas.
Elsewhere, Dan Cole, Matt Smith, Tom Varndell and Ben Woods were all in the England Saxons squad that reached the final of the Churchill Cup before losing out to an Ireland A side featuring Tigers wing Johne Murphy.
Scrum-half Julien Dupuy made his France debut against New Zealand while Seru Rabeni and Alesana Tuilagi are at the Pacific Nations Cup.
Young talents Ben Youngs, Greig Tonks, Will Hurrell and Jack Cobden helped England Under-20s to the final of the World Junior Championships.
And Tigers great and former England captain Martin Corry ended his illustrious career playing for the Barbarians against England and Australia alongside teammate Geordan Murphy.
Cockerill said: “We want guys in the Test sides flying the flag for Leicester Tigers.”
Season tickets to see Tigers’ international-studded team are in huge demand. English champions Tigers have already beaten last year's season ticket figures with more than two months to go before the start of the new campaign.
Diamond category seats in the new Caterpillar Stand are already close to selling-out and, with demand high in all other areas, many of the best seats have already been snapped up.
A season ticket is the best way to guarantee your place at Welford Road for the biggest games next season. Visit the Welford Road ticket office, call 0844 856 1880 or click here to download an information pack.
