Charlie Clare is enjoying being back on the pitch, representing the club, ahead of the first home game of the 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership season.

Clare played 80 minutes in Round 1, which included a try, 9 carries and 19 tackles.

The Leicester Tigers hooker spoke to the Press from the club’s Oval Park training ground on Monday afternoon.

See what the front-rower had to say below.

Speaking about his 80 minute effort, away to Exeter Chiefs in Round 1, he said: “Any game, whether it’s 40 minutes or 80 minutes or whatever – there are plenty of lads who play 80 week in, week out – every minute on the pitch I am normally pretty happy, being able to represent Leicester Tigers.”

“You’ve just got to be able to get out there and play.

“We train really hard to be in the best condition we can be; if you end up playing 80 then so be it. I was proud to represent the club on Saturday.”

On working with Steve Borthwick, Clare said: “I am grateful for Steve trusting me, especially when he first came in and gave me the opportunity to play.”

“I think he is a great coach and has improved me massively.

“I have a lot of time for him and what he says and the detail around my game in particular.”

Discussing his working relationship with fellow hookers, he said: “It is great, not just on that position but across the board, there is competition for places, which I think that showed at the end of last year.”

“Luckily I benefited from it, but Nic [Dolly] was right next to me through those last few games, helping me and we always help each other with lineout calls and everything else.”

“It is a great group to be in; there is competition but nothing that is ever nasty about it or anything like that. Asking questions is not a sign of weakness, and the new guys - Tom Horton, Joe Taufete’e - have come in and I think they have been great.”