A sell-out crowd of 24,000 were able to enjoy the clash of defending Guinness Premiership champions Tigers and their old rivals London Wasps when every other top-flight fixture fell victim to the weather.
Sky Sports agreed to bring the game forward to a 3.15pm kick-off from its original 5.30pm slot for live coverage and Tigers worked tirelessly on beating the worst of the weather.
And the hard work paid off as Tigers secured a 34-8 bonus point win that took them top of the Guinness Premiership table.
Tigers chairman Peter Tom CBE said: “Today’s game would not be going ahead if it was not for a tremendous amount of work and help from Caterpillar, Aggregate Industries, Leicester City Council, Stadia and Sports Services, the groundstaff and many other volunteers who I would like to thank on behalf of everyone at the club.
“This club’s major successes have always been achieved through commitment and teamwork, and that has shone through in the determination to get today’s game on.
“Leicester Tigers against London Wasps is a massive fixture every season and a great way to kick off the new year at Welford Road.”
With help from Premier Rugby Limited and Sports & Stadia Services, the Welford Road pitch remained under cover all week and hot-air blowers were used under a protective balloon to keep the frost out of the playing surface.
Then 24 tonnes of snow were removed from the top of the covers in midweek, with Tigers main sponsor Caterpillar coming to the club’s assistance by providing a telehandler to transport the snow out of the stadium.
Midland Rock and Bardon Aggregates provided a truck to transport the snow to Saffron Lane Sports Centre where Leicester City Council kindly allowed the club to deposit it.
A workforce, including volunteers from local club Oadby Wyggestonians RFC, was also in place on Saturday morning to help clear the terraces and stands after an overnight snowfall, while Leicester City Council operators gritted highways and pavements in the surrounding area.
French referee Mr Romain Poite was satisfied with the condition of the pitch when he arrived on Saturday morning and coaches of both clubs were able to inspect conditions under the protective covers, which were only removed an hour before kick-off.
