Competition winner and Tigers fan Gareth Williams and his partner Claire enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of Leicester Tigers’ Oval Park training ground courtesy of club partner The Nottingham Building Society. 

The Nottingham 60 branches in 10 counties and sponsor the Robin Hood Stand at Welford Road, also support its Tag Rugby programme delivered to primary schools around Leicester and Leicestershire. 

Gareth was the winner of a social media competition ran by The Nottingham to experience the life of a rugby player with the chance to visit the club’s training ground.

The pair visited the changing rooms, gym and indoor and outdoor training facilities before sitting down to have lunch with the players themselves. Hookers Tom Youngs and Tatafu Polota-Nau took time out to meet Gareth and Claire, as well as England prop (and Claire’s favourite player) Dan Cole.

After lunch, the tour continued visiting the kit room at Oval Park before watching the team train out on the pitch.

Gareth, from Bingham, Nottinghamshire, said: “I saw the competition on The Nottingham’s Facebook page and entered via the comments and was lucky enough to be drawn as the winner. I couldn’t believe it.

“I’ve supported Tigers since I was 13 and I started playing rugby at my local club in Newark. I was a season ticket holder for six years but because I continued playing adult rugby I could no longer make the games as often as I could.

“I’ve been to Oval Park a few times through its links with Oadby Wyggs, and I was also on the supporters’ forum for a few years and they bought us along, but it has been a few years now. It’s incredible to see the players so close up, and see just how they train.”

The Nottingham were also in attendance for Leicester Tigers 59-7 win over Rugby Calvisano in the European Challenge Cup, offering advice for supporters as well as the chance to win Tigers prizes. 

Find out more about The Nottingham at the link below.