Leicester Tigers embark on their second home double header of the season this Saturday, November 9 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
The men's side will welcome Coventry Rugby in the Premiership Rugby Cup (3pm), while the women's team will kick off the day with their clash against Bristol Bears in Premiership Women's Rugby (12pm).
""A second Double Header of the season really excites us" said Head Coach Tom Hudson.
"It's brilliant to be able to give supporters a full day out watching rugby and we can't wait to kick off the day with a bang."
Tigers were defeated in their last home outing at home to Trailfinders Women in a back and forth match that saw both sides trade the lead, as the side search for their opening win of the season.
Bears, meanwhile, have two wins and losses apiece from the opening rounds, victorious against Sale Sharks and Loughborough Lightning but defeated against Saracens and, last weekend, Harlequins women.
"We set the team clear goals in terms of the standards we have to set at home and, although the result didn't go our way, we felt like we went up a gear from our opening home game (against Harlequins).
"The challenge now is to keep that positive momentum and start turning that positivity in the camp into wins on the field.
A key part of that uptick in performance was the hard work in defence. Catha Jacobs (21) lead the league in terms of tackles last week, with Eva Donaldson (18) and Morgan Richardson (18) also heavily involved, while captain Charlotte Fray (16) also made six dominant tackles in Round 5: no player has made as many in a Premiership Women's Rugby match so far this season.
The packs hard work in attack was also evident, especially in how they set the platform to provide quick ball for the back line; Leicester had the quickest average ruck speed in Round 5 (2.8s) while Tigers ruck retention rate was 96.7% (2nd).
The key beneficiary of that speed was Francesca McGhie. The wing made 154 metres last weekend, more than any other player, beating nine defenders (2nd of all players for Round 5), made four clean breaks (1st), and scored two tries.
Bears are bringing their own firepower out wide. Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, set to start on the wing for the visitors, made more carries (22) and beat more defenders (ten) than any other player in Round 5.
Equalling Jacobs' record last weekend, No. 8 Rownita Marston-Mulhearn also made 21 tackles, two of which were dominant. She also won two turnovers.
Bristol are lethal when it comes to attacking: the South-West side have made the most clean breaks (46) so far this season, 52% of which have been converted to a try in the same possession (1st). Pulling the strings in midfield, Amber Reed, Jenna de Vera, and Phoebe Murray have assisted the most breaks: nine, eight, and six, respectively.
"Bristol are a side consistently around the play off spots and we expect no different from them at the end of this season.
"They have a plethora of extremely exciting runners, the back three of Hesketh, Joyce-Butchers and David as well as Emma Orr, but their pack is also extremely powerful.
"The focus and work rate we demonstrated in defence last week will be vital."
The visitors a number of internationals across the side, with an all Red Rose front row of Hannah Botterman, Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah Bern.
Leicester, meanwhile, are able to name an unchanged starting XV from the side that started last week's clash against Trailfinders Women.
The matchday squad sees just one change: the return of last year's Player's Player and Supporter's Player of the Year, Meg Jones.
Having last represented Tigers in March, following time in Paris representing Team GB 7s at the Olympics and an injury sustained in Red Roses training, Jones is named amongst the replacements.
"Having Meg back is always a boost as she continues to bring so much energy to the group.
"We know the Tigers Family will be excited to welcome her back to Mattioli Woods Welford Road."
