Leicester Tigers back-rower Tommy Reffell admits it was frustrating not to mark his Premiership debut with a win on Saturday.

The 20-year-old had already made 11 appearances in green, white and red in both Cup and European competition, but the trip to Worcester was his first taste of league action.

But, after a start alongside Guy Thompson and summer arrival Hanro Liebenberg in the opening round of this season’s Gallagher Premiership, the Wales U20s conceded the eight-point loss wasn’t how he had hoped to make his league bow.

“We came down here and we had one goal; and that was to win,” he said.

“To go back now, without even a point, we could be disappointed and we could be frustrated, but now we’ve got to lift our heads up and look ahead to next week.”

Next up for Tigers is a home clash with reigning champions Saracens, who also slipped to an opening day defeat.

“It’s such a competitive league,” Reffell continued. “Not many points separated the bottom of the table from the top four last year, so I think what it’s all about now is regrouping and focusing on Saracens.

“That will be another tough game, but they won’t get any easier in the weeks to come.”

Despite coming out on the wrong end of the result, though, the Pencoed-born forward highlighted the set-piece as an area to build on in the weeks to come, especially given the platform created to put club captain Tom Youngs over for Tigers’ first try of the league season.

Reffell added: “Our set-piece functioned well. We had a really good set-piece, so we’ve got to keep moving in that sense, stick to our game plan and move on a bit.

“I think it’d be pretty unnatural if you weren’t feeling frustrated at the [Worcester] result, but it is part and parcel of the game.

“We’ve got to keep our heads high and move onto the next one.”

Tigers return to Welford Road for Round 2 of the Gallagher Premiership this Sunday, October 27 (3.00pm). Supporters are encouraged to BUY EARLY to secure the best-priced match tickets.