Leicester Tigers can now share an update with fans on the club’s planned Tigers Foundation Monument project recognising those who died in World War One and Two.
46 Tigers and 100 Barbarians gave their lives serving their country during both conflicts and, over the past two years, the Tigers Foundation has been raising money towards a monument at Welford Road in their honour.
Thanks to donations from supporters, the club has managed to raise £70,000 for the project and is now aiming to build a newly-designed plinth outside the Holland & Barrett Stand.
The plinth will be etched with each of the names of the fallen, as well as the names of each of the contributors whose generous donations have helped make such a project possible.
Whilst the hope was to create a larger ‘archway’ featuring two bronze Tigers in line with the club’s hotel and car park development, on top of the plinth will sit a bronze set Tiger.
The news comes in line with the club’s Armistice Day remembrance marking 100 years since the end of World War One on Friday November 9, ahead of the club’s Premiership Rugby Cup fixture against Sale Sharks.
Players will be joined by members of the 2nd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment, the Tigers Veteran Association and Royal British Legion standard bearers before the traditional playing of The Last Post and two minutes’ silence. 46 wreathes will also be held by supporters recognising the fallen 46 Tigers and will be placed by a newly-installed 'Wall of Honour' next to the 'Wall of Legends' by the Robin Hood Stand.
Alec Brown, Leicester Tigers Foundation fundraiser said: “Whilst we would have loved to reach the initial £180,000 target, we are immensely proud of the generosity and donations from supporters who have made this project possible.
“We’re working closely with the key figureheads at the club, design team and the Tigers Foundation to ensure that the new-look monument reflects the heritage of the club and the sacrifice of the 146.
We’re hopeful that construction of the monument can begin in the New Year and supporters can still donate and get involved by obtaining our limited edition Foundation Crowns."
Anyone interested in supporting the memorial can click the link below to find out more about making a donation to receive a Leicester Tigers Foundation Crown, a limited edition coin which commemorates the heritage project.
Donors will also receive an invitation to the launch event for the monument and supporters' names will be etched into the base.
