Tigers go to Italy to face Benetton Treviso on Saturday, then host Scarlets in the opening home game in Europe’s elite club competition on Sunday, October 17 (3pm) before back-to-back fixtures with Perpignan in December and the last two rounds of pool fixtures in the new year.
“The Heineken Cup is a fantastic competition,” says Murphy, a two-time winner with Tigers. “We have had a good pedigree in the competition, it’s a competition we aspire to win, but there are so many strong teams involved.
“You have to be on your own ‘A’ game because there is not much room for manoeuvre if you drop points in the pool stages.”
Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill, who has been involved in five European finals with the club as player and coach, added: “We were disappointed last year when we didn’t get out of the group, especially as the year before we reached the final and went close to winning it.
“We want to be at the top table and playing in those big games.
“But you’ve got to manage your way through the pool stages first. We’re in a tough pool again this year. Treviso have had an excellent start in the Magners League, the Scarlets are doing well and Perpignan are a consistent side with a very good squad.
“We’re doing some good things too, we’re playing some good rugby and we’re scoring tries, we’re a work in progress.
“Going into Europe is another fresh target to aim for and we’re looking forward to it.”
Tickets for Tigers’ opening home game in Europe, against the Scarlets, are available now. Contact the ticket hotline on 0844 856 1880, book online or call in at the Welford Road ticket office (open 8.30am-5pm weekdays and until 8pm on Wednesdays, or 9am-5pm Saturday).
