Pat Howard has been named Guinness Premiership head coach of the month for January. The Leicester Tigers head coach saw his side register league victories over Saracens and Newcastle Falcons in the first weeks of 2007 to take over at the top of the table, as well as the Heineken Cup win over Cardiff Blues at Welford Road and the momentous victory away to Munster.
In accepting his award, Howard said his side had slowly been building momentum since the tail-end of last season and were now in a position to be more flexible with their pool of players.
"It was that Wasps away game during the autumn that gave us a lot of confidence to rotate the squad," Howard said. "So, with this flexibility and competition for places, we went into the big match in Europe knowing we had the ability to change a whole team for the Guinness Premiership game with Newcastle a week later."
Sky TV commentator Miles Harrison, the voting panel chairman, said: "January was a month when Leicester announced some serious intentions in 2007. The historic European win in Munster was backed by two strong performances at Welford Road in the Guinness Premiership and Pat Howard's squad is well placed to challenge on all fronts."
Mike Tindall of Gloucester collected the Guinness Premiership Player of the Month award.
In this year of anticipation for club and country, the Guinness Premiership monthly awards are especially significant. With 17 nations represented in the English league, only the most outstanding individuals will be recognised for the award and national selection in 2007.
In accepting his award, Howard said his side had slowly been building momentum since the tail-end of last season and were now in a position to be more flexible with their pool of players.
"It was that Wasps away game during the autumn that gave us a lot of confidence to rotate the squad," Howard said. "So, with this flexibility and competition for places, we went into the big match in Europe knowing we had the ability to change a whole team for the Guinness Premiership game with Newcastle a week later."
Sky TV commentator Miles Harrison, the voting panel chairman, said: "January was a month when Leicester announced some serious intentions in 2007. The historic European win in Munster was backed by two strong performances at Welford Road in the Guinness Premiership and Pat Howard's squad is well placed to challenge on all fronts."
Mike Tindall of Gloucester collected the Guinness Premiership Player of the Month award.
In this year of anticipation for club and country, the Guinness Premiership monthly awards are especially significant. With 17 nations represented in the English league, only the most outstanding individuals will be recognised for the award and national selection in 2007.
