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Rugby News

Borthwick praises efforts of Tigers squad

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Steve Borthwick believes Friday night's victory over Bath Rugby was "just reward" for the efforts of his players during the opening months of the 21/22 campaign.

Speaking after the bonus-point win, in front of more than 19,000 fans at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, the Leicester Tigers Head Coach was high in praise for his squad. 

"They deserve that win tonight, they deserve to feel good about getting the result here in front of our supporters," said Borthwick.

"It wasn't easy, Bath made it difficult in the way we expected they would and the players had to fight until the very end."

Despite an unbeaten start to the Gallagher Premiership season, Borthwick remains focused on the job at hand for the club, which the man in charge says is far, far from over.

"We remain focused on becoming better, that has never changed ... we want to improve every day and, while we have had a great start to this season, there is lots to do," he said.

"I am most proud for the way in which this group want to improve, every single day, on and off the pitch.

"The results are just reward for their efforts and their commitment to what we are building and I emphasise building, as nothing is complete."

The focus now switches to the Premiership Rugby Cup for clubs across the league and, while the development competition will offer opportunities for some players and coaches to step up into different roles, Borthwick believes it doesn't change the approach at Tigers.

"While the weekend gives 23 players a chance to represent Leicester Tigers, what we have at this club is a squad who work equally as hard as one another to prepare for the next game," said Borthwick.

"It is never a case of those selected being the only players who have to work hard, it's about every single player contributing on and off the pitch towards the preparation for the next game, the next session, during the next meeting, whatever it may be.

"That doesn't change, our focus doesn't change and we don't switch off now because we don't have a Premiership fixture for a month.

"Every single one of us - players, coaches, staff - work hard, every day in whatever we are doing, to get better."

Leicester Tigers host Sale Sharks at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday, November 13 in the first round of the 21/22 Premiership Rugby Cup.