Is there a better way to kick off the Christmas period than joining a packed crowd at Welford Road for a vital match between Leicester Tigers and Munster Rugby, two clubs who know that it means to win the European Cup?
Both Tigers and their visitors enjoy a rich heritage in the tournament, with Leicester lifting the European Cup in 2001 and 2002 – beating Munster in the Final that year – and the Irish province crowned kings of Europe in 2006 and 2008.
Unusually, though, home wins have proved elusive in fixtures between the old rivals with Munster winning twice at Welford Road – including a quarter-final in 2003 when Leicester were closing in on a third successive Final – and Tigers triumphing in Limerick in 2007 and again when the rivalry resumed this season.
“We got an important win at Thomond Park in a tough European pool,” said Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill after a 31-19 win in Ireland last weekend. “It is a place not many teams go to and win, especially in Europe, and I was delighted for the team.
“But no one is getting carried away. The game ebbed and flowed, Munster are a good side and they created opportunities. We probably got the rub of the green at times, but when our moments came, we managed to take them. We kept a foothold in the game when we needed to and the try from Ben Youngs was probably the defining moment.
"It is another massive challenge and a massive occasion when Munster come to Welford Road on Sunday.”
Tigers have won in each of the three rounds of European Champions Cup action so far this season, recording bonus-point triumphs over Stade Francais and Benetton Treviso before victory at Munster’s Thomond Park fortress last week.
Munster beat Treviso in Round 1 but have yet to play their Round 2 fixture against Stade Francais after the game was postponed in the wake of the Paris attacks. This will now be played in early January.
Tigers flanker Brendon O’Connor gained his first experience of playing against Munster last weekend and said: “In the week leading up to it, all the boys talked about how big a game it was going to bem but it wasn’t until I got there that I realised it and it was awesome to get a win like that.
“We’ve just got to keep looking at those areas we can grow and not be happy with where we’re at so each week we can get better and better.”
Kick-off at Welford Road is at 5.15pm on Sunday. A full afternoon of entertainment and activities is planned with the Tigers Christmas market from 2.15pm. Click here for a full matchday guide.
Tickets are still available at the Tigers ticket office. Call in at Welford Road (9.00am-5.00pm Saturday and from 9am Sunday), phone 0116 319 8888 (8.30am-5.00pm Saturday and from 9am Sunday) or click here to book online any time. A print at home service is available, or pick up pre-booked tickets at the Collection Point on the plaza outside the MET-Rx Stand.
Both Tigers and their visitors enjoy a rich heritage in the tournament, with Leicester lifting the European Cup in 2001 and 2002 – beating Munster in the Final that year – and the Irish province crowned kings of Europe in 2006 and 2008.
Unusually, though, home wins have proved elusive in fixtures between the old rivals with Munster winning twice at Welford Road – including a quarter-final in 2003 when Leicester were closing in on a third successive Final – and Tigers triumphing in Limerick in 2007 and again when the rivalry resumed this season.
“We got an important win at Thomond Park in a tough European pool,” said Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill after a 31-19 win in Ireland last weekend. “It is a place not many teams go to and win, especially in Europe, and I was delighted for the team.
“But no one is getting carried away. The game ebbed and flowed, Munster are a good side and they created opportunities. We probably got the rub of the green at times, but when our moments came, we managed to take them. We kept a foothold in the game when we needed to and the try from Ben Youngs was probably the defining moment.
"It is another massive challenge and a massive occasion when Munster come to Welford Road on Sunday.”
Tigers have won in each of the three rounds of European Champions Cup action so far this season, recording bonus-point triumphs over Stade Francais and Benetton Treviso before victory at Munster’s Thomond Park fortress last week.
Munster beat Treviso in Round 1 but have yet to play their Round 2 fixture against Stade Francais after the game was postponed in the wake of the Paris attacks. This will now be played in early January.
Tigers flanker Brendon O’Connor gained his first experience of playing against Munster last weekend and said: “In the week leading up to it, all the boys talked about how big a game it was going to bem but it wasn’t until I got there that I realised it and it was awesome to get a win like that.
“We’ve just got to keep looking at those areas we can grow and not be happy with where we’re at so each week we can get better and better.”
Kick-off at Welford Road is at 5.15pm on Sunday. A full afternoon of entertainment and activities is planned with the Tigers Christmas market from 2.15pm. Click here for a full matchday guide.
Tickets are still available at the Tigers ticket office. Call in at Welford Road (9.00am-5.00pm Saturday and from 9am Sunday), phone 0116 319 8888 (8.30am-5.00pm Saturday and from 9am Sunday) or click here to book online any time. A print at home service is available, or pick up pre-booked tickets at the Collection Point on the plaza outside the MET-Rx Stand.
