Hundreds of promising players from across the Tigers region have already been put through their paces on a Tigers Rugby Course this year, improving their game under the watchful eye of the club’s community coaches.
They have also been able to grill some of their Tigers heroes during exclusive question and answer sessions, including former captain Martin Corry, who dropped in at the Melton RFC course in May, and Tom Croft, who visited Oakham RFC earlier this year.
And the young players have also done their bit for charity, raising more than £4,000 for the Matt Hampson Foundation through the sale of wristbands.
Scott Clarke, Tigers community manager, said: “It is great to see everyone showing their support for such a great support.
“It shows how the rugby family works together and pulls together, even from the youngest age groups.
“We know what an inspirational figure Matt Hampson is for players of all ages and it is great to see the next generation of players showing their support.”
Hampson visited last month’s course at Melton RFC where he received a cheque for £600 following the efforts of the players there.
Tommy Cawston, of the Matt Hampson Foundation, said: “The Tigers community department are huge supporters of the Matt Hampson Foundation and Matt has visited a number of the Tigers Rugby Courses over the years for question and answer sessions and to present awards at the end of the week.
“We’d like to thank the team and the young players on the courses for their continued support and look forward to working even closer in the coming years.”
Tigers Rugby Courses will return at the start of the summer holidays when they will be hosting camps at Ratcliffe College and Market Harborough RFC (both July 18-22) and at Swaffham RFC and Trent College (both July 25-29).
Tigers Rugby Courses are the only courses run by and endorsed by Leicester Tigers, the two-time European champions. This year Tigers will visit 26 venues.
Tigers players Ben Youngs, Sam Harrison and Jonny Harris are among those to have taken part in the rugby course programme and gone on to represent the first team at Welford Road.
All courses are attended by a full-time first-aider. Tigers coaches are CRB cleared and their work replicates that of the club's Elite Player Development Group - which identifies players with the potential to play rugby at the elite level and gives them early access to Tigers Academy coaching.
Tigers Rugby Courses are supported by energy efficiency specialists Mark Group and led by former players including ex-captain and coach Ian 'Dosser' Smith, double Heineken Cup winner Glenn Gelderbloom and ex-hooker Troy Thacker.
Players taking part can expect a hot meal each day, a Tigers Rugby Course T-shirt, rugby ball and water bottle and a ticket to a selected first-team game at Welford Road.
Courses are being held right across the Tigers region, including Lutterworth RFC (August 8-12) and Leicester Forest RFC (October 17-21).
More information about Tigers Rugby Courses is available at www.leicestertigers.com/community
