Newport Gwent Dragons travel to Welford Road this Saturday for the first time since November 2009 to face Leicester Tigers in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
Tigers opened the campaign with a 21-20 victory at Bath last Friday thanks to tries from Luke Hamilton and George Catchpole plus 11 points from the boot of fly-half Freddie Burns, while the Dragons line up in the competition for the first time this season on Saturday.
Tournament winners in 2007 and 2012, as well as runners-up in 2008, Tigers have met the Dragons on three occasions in the Anglo-Welsh knockout, most recently in a 29-20 victory at Welford Road seven years ago in a match which featured a first start for the club for Australia international wing Lote Tuqiri. Click here for all the details from that afternoon.
There is a mix of youth and experience in the matchday squads with Tigers recalling Marcos Ayerza, Peter Betham and Tom Croft to the starting line-up and Dragons including Wales caps Tom Prydie, Tavis Knoyle and Craig Mitchell.
Croft makes his first starting appearance of the season and says the players involved will be determined to give the Tigers coaches a selection headache in coming weeks.
“We want a good performance, especially in front of our fans,” said back-rower Croft. “You want a lot of guys holding their hands up for selection for Premiership and European games going forward.”
Referee on Friday is Andrew Jackson, officiating at Welford Road for the first time.
The two clubs have met in three previous seasons in the Anglo-Welsh competition, Tigers’ only defeat coming at Rodney Parade in Newport in September 2005.
Saturday’s game is not scheduled for live TV coverage.
Match tickets are still available from the Tigers ticket office, open 9am-5pm Friday and from 9am up to kick-off on Saturday. Or click here to book online any time.
Pool round fixtures in the Anglo-Welsh Cup are included in Tigers season tickets.
For a full matchday guide, click here.
Tigers opened the campaign with a 21-20 victory at Bath last Friday thanks to tries from Luke Hamilton and George Catchpole plus 11 points from the boot of fly-half Freddie Burns, while the Dragons line up in the competition for the first time this season on Saturday.
Tournament winners in 2007 and 2012, as well as runners-up in 2008, Tigers have met the Dragons on three occasions in the Anglo-Welsh knockout, most recently in a 29-20 victory at Welford Road seven years ago in a match which featured a first start for the club for Australia international wing Lote Tuqiri. Click here for all the details from that afternoon.
There is a mix of youth and experience in the matchday squads with Tigers recalling Marcos Ayerza, Peter Betham and Tom Croft to the starting line-up and Dragons including Wales caps Tom Prydie, Tavis Knoyle and Craig Mitchell.
Croft makes his first starting appearance of the season and says the players involved will be determined to give the Tigers coaches a selection headache in coming weeks.
“We want a good performance, especially in front of our fans,” said back-rower Croft. “You want a lot of guys holding their hands up for selection for Premiership and European games going forward.”
Referee on Friday is Andrew Jackson, officiating at Welford Road for the first time.
The two clubs have met in three previous seasons in the Anglo-Welsh competition, Tigers’ only defeat coming at Rodney Parade in Newport in September 2005.
Saturday’s game is not scheduled for live TV coverage.
Match tickets are still available from the Tigers ticket office, open 9am-5pm Friday and from 9am up to kick-off on Saturday. Or click here to book online any time.
Pool round fixtures in the Anglo-Welsh Cup are included in Tigers season tickets.
For a full matchday guide, click here.
