Tigers take on Italian side Benetton Treviso in the Stadio di Monigo today (2.30pm local time) in their opening Pool 5 fixture before returning to Welford Road next Sunday (3pm) to face Welsh side Scarlets.
England international Croft is named in Tigers’ side to take on Magners League side Treviso and described the Heineken Cup as “a great competition”.
“We are into Europe and it is the start of a new campaign,” said Croft. “Hopefully we will hit the ground running.
“I am massively looking forward to it. I didn’t play much in the European campaign last year because of injury. It is a great competition to be involved in and hopefully we can do well.”
Croft captained Tigers for the first time in their Aviva Premiership Rugby fixture away to Saracens last week.
He hands the captain’s armband back to club skipper Geordan Murphy for today’s Heineken Cup clash describing it as an honour to lead Tigers.
“It was a great honour and a pleasure to be captain of Leicester,” he said. “I did enjoy being captain. Running out as captain of Leicester Tigers is a great honour to be bestowed on me but I would have taken the win over anything else.”
Tickets for Tigers’ Heineken Cup clash with Scarlets at Welford Road on Sunday are available on 0844 856 1880 and online by clicking here
