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Tigers ABC to Z: K is for Kay, Kenney and kit

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The Tigers ABC to Z series reaches the letter K.K is for Kay Ben Kay formed a formidable second-row partnership for club and country with Martin Johnson.   After joining from Waterloo, he made 281 appearances for Tigers and earned 62 England caps. He played in the historic Rugby World Cup win of 2003 and the Final four years later, and gained two Test caps with the British & Irish Lions.   Kay had few peers as a lineout technician and was highly effective around the park too. He won the Heineken Cup in 2001 and 2002 and played in the finals of 2007 and 2009, and was part of six Premiership-winning squads.   Kay’s 65 Heineken Cup appearances put him fourth on the club’s all-time list, and only seven players have played more league games than his 177.   Now a respected broadcaster with BT Sport, he joined the Tigers board of directors in 2014.   K is for Kardooni Former scrum-half Aadel Kardooni was championed by users of the Official Leicester Tigers Facebook page including Tim Gadsby, Vicky Lee, Karen Porter and Peter Smith. A popular member of the squad with players and supporters, Kardooni made 222 appearances for Tigers after making his debut in 1988.   He played in three Pilkington Cup Finals, making his last appearance for Tigers in the 1997 success against Sale, and also played in the 1993 Cup-winning team and in the 1989 Final defeat. He was also a member of the Tigers squad that won the title in 1994. K is for Kenney Another of Tigers' notable scrum-halves, Steve Kenney was one of the first products of the youth team to receive a senior debut when he scored a brace of tries against Nuneaton in 1975. Kenney repaid the club handsomely, making 365 appearances and scoring 69 tries, including the winning try in the 1979 John Player Cup Final against Moseley. The moment was captured by Van Hopkins' on BBC Radio Leicester, whose words "Kenney's over" are still cherished by fans of a certain age. Kenney was on the mark again in the 1981 Final victory against Gosforth as Tigers made it three Cup success in a row and claimed the John Player Trophy for keeps.   K is for Kit The original Tigers kit was all black before changing to chocolate and orange hoops by 1884. The Tigers History Book documents that the kit evolved to feature “chocolate and French grey” and then “claret and French grey” colours before the green, red and white was adopted in 1891.   Tigers switched to white in the early part of the 20th Century, a period in which the original Clubhouse was built. And with a nod to that period of the club’s history, Tigers have produced a limited edition white replica jersey for supporters who upgrade their season ticket to the Gold area of the new West Stand, which is currently under construction. Click here for details.   Tigers introduced a change kit in 1981, which was predominantly red, and had their first kit sponsors in 1996. Current shirt sponsor Caterpillar is the club’s fifth main sponsor, a relationship that goes back to 2008.   The new Tigers home kit is expected to be unveiled within the next two weeks. Supporters are asked to keep an eye out on the club website and social media channels for details.   K is for Kingsholm Tigers became the first team to win an away Premiership semi-final when they stormed Kingsholm in 2008.   Gloucester Rugby finished top of the table at the end of the regular season while Tom Varndell’s dramatic late try against Harlequins gave Tigers fourth place.   Hosts Gloucester led 12-5 at half-time of the semi-final but tries from Alesana Tuilagi and Aaron Mauger brought Tigers back into the game before Andy Goode’s last-gasp drop goal gave Leicester a 26-25 victory.