Leicester Season Preview

Owen Finegan and Richard Cockerill

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Leicester Tigers will be hoping to continue the club's recent success by retaining the Guinness Premiership title. However several of their stars are set to miss the opening weeks of the season.

The defending champions, arguably more than any other team, will feel the force of player departures during the Rugby World Cup, with the likes of Martin Corry, Lewis Moody, Dan Hipkiss, George Chuter and Ben Kay all involved in France.

Leicester's season should really kick-in after the World Cup, not only will they welcome home a series of players, but also a new manager.

Current Argentina Coach Marcelo Loffreda will replace Pat Howard, who resigned at the end of last season.

The Tigers have also brought in some impressive players, most notably New Zealand centre Aaron Mauger, who joins from Canterbury Crusaders.

All this should lead to a successful domestic season for Leicester, who will at least expect to finish in the top three.

Ground: Welford Road.
Capacity: 16,815.
Rugby director: Marcelo Loffreda.
Captain: Martin Corry.

Last season: 2nd (won play-off final).

Players in: Aaron Mauger (Canterbury Crusaders), Ayoola Erinle (Wasps), Benjamin Kayser (Stade Francais), Mefin Davies (Gloucester), Richard Blaze (Worcester), Owen Finegan (Leinster), Christophe Laussucq (Castres), Boris Stankovich (Albi), Marco Wentzel (Treviso).

Players out: Leo Cullen, Shane Jennings (both Leinster), Daryl Gibson (Glasgow), Leon Lloyd (Gloucester), Michael Holford, James Buckland (both Wasps), Andy Tuilagi (Leeds), Henry Tuilagi (Perpignan), Ian Nimmo (Edinbirgh).

Prediction: 3rd.