Tigers coaches Richard Cockerill and Paul Burke line-up on opposing sides tonight in a friendly match in aid of the Matt Hampson Trust.
Head coach Cockerill is an England squad that will take on an Ireland team featuring kicking coach Burke for the Stuart Mangan Cup at the Twickenham Stoop (7.45pm).
The pair have been putting in the hours at Tigers’ Oval Park training ground in readiness for the game.
“Now that I am a coach I am obviously brilliant at everything,” laughed Cockerill. “I am sure there will be some wise sages that want to say ‘make sure your low body tackle is alright’ and ‘make sure you get over the ball’ and stay square in defence and make your tackles’. All that sort of stuff.”
Burke added: “Cockers has been giving me some stick, telling me to get into the gym and beef up a bit because he is going to be running down my channel.
“I have said to him to get a good look at my back because he will be chasing it!”
England will be skippered by ex-Tigers captain Martin Corry and includes Welford Road favourites Neil Back, Darren Garforth, Tim Stimpson, Dorian West, Leon Lloyd and Austin Healey.
Corry joked: “They have asked me to lead the side. Richard Cockerill has kindly agreed to play so I am going to enjoy captaining Cockers and telling him what to do for a change!”
The England squad also includes Jason Leonard, England's most-capped player who will be making his return to The Stoop, and fellow World Cup winners Josh Lewsey, Mike Catt and Mark Regan.
Ireland's squad is led by Shane Byrne and includes Mick Galwey, Peter Clohessy, Reggie Corrigan, Victor Costello, Trevor Brennan, Derek McAleese, Maurice Field, John O'Neill, Justin Bishop and Rob Henderson.
More information is available at www.englandirelandlegends.co.uk or on the Matt Hampson website at www.matthampson.co.uk
And whatever the result, Cockerill and Burke will have some extra time for the bumps and bruises to come out with Tigers kicking off in the Guinness Premiership at Northampton Saints at 6pm tomorrow.
Head coach Cockerill is an England squad that will take on an Ireland team featuring kicking coach Burke for the Stuart Mangan Cup at the Twickenham Stoop (7.45pm).
The pair have been putting in the hours at Tigers’ Oval Park training ground in readiness for the game.
“Now that I am a coach I am obviously brilliant at everything,” laughed Cockerill. “I am sure there will be some wise sages that want to say ‘make sure your low body tackle is alright’ and ‘make sure you get over the ball’ and stay square in defence and make your tackles’. All that sort of stuff.”
Burke added: “Cockers has been giving me some stick, telling me to get into the gym and beef up a bit because he is going to be running down my channel.
“I have said to him to get a good look at my back because he will be chasing it!”
England will be skippered by ex-Tigers captain Martin Corry and includes Welford Road favourites Neil Back, Darren Garforth, Tim Stimpson, Dorian West, Leon Lloyd and Austin Healey.
Corry joked: “They have asked me to lead the side. Richard Cockerill has kindly agreed to play so I am going to enjoy captaining Cockers and telling him what to do for a change!”
The England squad also includes Jason Leonard, England's most-capped player who will be making his return to The Stoop, and fellow World Cup winners Josh Lewsey, Mike Catt and Mark Regan.
Ireland's squad is led by Shane Byrne and includes Mick Galwey, Peter Clohessy, Reggie Corrigan, Victor Costello, Trevor Brennan, Derek McAleese, Maurice Field, John O'Neill, Justin Bishop and Rob Henderson.
More information is available at www.englandirelandlegends.co.uk or on the Matt Hampson website at www.matthampson.co.uk
And whatever the result, Cockerill and Burke will have some extra time for the bumps and bruises to come out with Tigers kicking off in the Guinness Premiership at Northampton Saints at 6pm tomorrow.
