Preseason is in the rear-view mirror and our place in the Cup Semi Final is secured; now it’s time for the Gallagher Premiership to take centre stage.
The Rugby World Cup may still be taking up some of the spotlight, but a blockbusting Friday night clash against Bristol Bears to kick the season off will serve as the perfect opportunity for Leicester Tigers to get their season underway.
Tigers head coach Dan McKellar saw 48 players put their hand up for selection throughout the Premiership Cup, the squad having assembled for preseason training in July.
International reinforcements will come, but McKellar’s charges are fit and firing for the trip to Ashton Gate Stadium, with the Bears naming a strong team to match McKellar’s selection.
TEAM NEWS
Tigers opponents have resisted the urge to put new recruit Virimi Vakatawa straight into the starting side, with livewire scrumhalf Harry Randall named to partner experienced playmaker AJ MacGinty.
buckle up ⚠️#BRIvLEI | @huboofulfilment
— Bristol Bears 🐻 (@BristolBears) October 12, 2023
Leicester have named six players to make their Premiership debut for the club (Josh Bassett, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Joe Powell, Matt Rogerson, Kyle Hatherell, Jamie Shillcock) for what is McKellar’s first Premiership match in charge of the club.
KEY FACTS
- Tigers have won two of their last three away games in Premiership Rugby.
- The Tigers are unbeaten in their last four Premiership Rugby encounters with the Bears, whilst curiously Bristol’s last five totals against the Tigers in the tournament have been 26, 26, 26, 26 and 24.
- Tigers are unbeaten in their last two visits to Ashton Gate.
- Overall the two clubs have met on 191 occasions with Leicester winning 98, to 83 by Bristol and ten games drawn. Seven of those games have been at Ashton Gate, where the Tigers record is W2, D1, L4.
DETAILS
Gallagher Premiership Round One
Bristol Bears vs Leicester Tigers
Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol
7:45pm kick-off
HOW TO WATCH
Tickets are available here or if you can’t make the trip to Bristol, the game is live and exclusive on TNT Sports.
For more information on how to add TNT Sports, click here.
The team will be supported by a sold out away supporter coach travelling down to Bristol, ran by G&G Travel. If you want to join on the next away trip, then contact the team at G&G Travel via email or phone [email protected] or 01664 503646.
