Leicester full-back George Worth says the Tigers squad are focused on creating ‘positive memories’ as they prepare for a breathless block of Premiership games.
The 23-year-old featured in all four of his side’s season-opening Premiership Rugby Cup fixtures, and now hopes to be involved once again when the league campaign kicks off at Worcester on Saturday.
“With players away [at the Rugby World Cup], it means certain people have to take more responsibility, myself included,” explained the Tigers Academy graduate.
“You have to step up, but it’s only good for you.
“Other players are in the same boat, so it’s good to have that chance to speak a bit more in meetings and take that leadership role.”
“We want to get into the habit of winning.”
George Worth
The opening set of Gallagher Premiership games sees Tigers host Saracens and Gloucester Rugby in Rounds 2 and 3, before a trip to the Madejski to face London Irish.
For Worth, replicating the feeling of back-to-back Cup wins – including a gritty performance at The Rec – will be crucial if Tigers are to build momentum in the first weeks of the season.
“For us, this season is about rebuilding and starting again, almost,” he continued. “We’ve got a reasonably new squad, we’ve got unbelievable new facilities [at Oval Park], so for us it’s been about building a new culture and trying to create some positive energy.
“Last year became a habit of losing, whereas this year we want to get into the habit of winning, and build a bit of momentum.
“Results will help us find where we are. Beating Bath away was a great example of us being tough – which is something that we’d spoken about – and it’s memories and experiences like that that help us build up from where we haven’t been good enough.
“That’s been bringing the boys even closer.”
The Leicester squad head to Sixways for their league curtain-raiser with a much-changed side from the one that ran out in the first round of Cup games four weeks ago, but Tigers certainly won’t be taking anything for granted.
When asked about the prospect of taking on the Warriors, Worth added: “They’re a good side, aren’t they?
“We went there a couple of times last year and didn’t get the right result, went there at the start of this season and didn’t get the right result, but we’re preparing as well as we can to make sure that we do.
“We’ll take the season one step at a time and enjoy the ride.”
