Leicester Tigers head coach Dan McKellar admitted he was pleased with his side’s 64-14 victory over Ampthill, Tigers having given valuable game time to some of the club’s exciting emerging talent as well as vital squad players in the 10-try display at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. 

McKellar has used 36 players in his first three games at the helm, this year’s Premiership Cup serving as a perfect opportunity for both players and staff to bed in McKellar’s evolved style of ‘Tigers Rugby’.

Speaking after the win, McKellar said: “Anytime you win by 50 points you have to be pleased and I thought the performance came off the back of a great week’s preparation where we targeted a couple of key areas to work on after Sale last week.”

“The players have been working hard since July 3, so I was pleased to see even more guys get an opportunity to represent the club and stake their claim for a jersey against Bristol in a couple of weeks.”

Three wins from three to start the season, McKellar has made rotating the Tigers team during the Premiership Cup a high priority with Newcastle next up at Mattioli Woods Welford Road this Saturday. 

Speaking on his selection plan for the Falcons challenge, McKellar said: “We’ve certainly looked at opportunities to give players game time and work on combinations but we’re obviously working towards October 13 against Bristol and the season to come so that will factor in as well.”

“With all respect to our opposition today, and I thought Ampthill gave a really good account of themselves, part of these games is giving guys in our group the chance to push for selection and more than a handful did that today which was good to see.”