Leicester Tigers have been forced to wear their blue away kit for the Guinness Premiership Final at Twickenham on Saturday, despite being top seeds and the 'home' team for the game.

Match officials and Premier Rugby Ltd were concerned that London Irish’s home and away kits potentially clashed with the Tigers’ first-choice green and white strip and have ordered the change.

Tigers chairman Peter Tom CBE said: “We are very disappointed that as home team and top seed, we have been instructed to change from our home strip for the final.

“Premier Rugby have informed us that this is the only option because all other combinations of kits were deemed unacceptable by the match officials.

“There will be thousands of Tigers supporters travelling to Twickenham in the club’s famous green, red and white colours and they will understandably feel aggrieved that this change has been forced on us.

“We hope that procedures can be amended to avoid this happening again in the future.”