Academy product Harry Thacker says he is enjoying developing his game with the help of the international front-rowers in the Leicester Tigers squad.
Thacker made an eye-catching contribution to the bonus-point win at London Welsh on Sunday, scoring his first two Aviva Premiership tries in a 26-5 victory.
Tigers could welcome back international hookers Leonardo Ghiraldini and Tom Youngs to their matchday squad for Saturday’s home game against Wasps (3pm). Ghiraldini is available after international duty for Italy while Youngs is back in training following his recovery from injury.
Thacker, who was joined in the front row at Kassam Stadium by Dan Cole, the England and British & Irish Lions prop, and Italy's Michele Rizzo, says he is learning all the time from his experienced colleagues.
"I've a lot to learn,” said the 20-year-old. “I'm enjoying having the opportunity to play with people like Dan Cole and Micky Rizzo, and international hookers like Leo and Tom.
“You learn a lot from them and pick things up, it’s a good experience for everyone.”
Thacker says Tigers did what they had to do in securing the bonus-point win at Welsh, which lifted them four places in the table to fifth.
Thacker scored the first two tries during the first half before Graham Kitchener and Robert Barbieri added a try each after the break.
Thacker said: “We did what we needed to do. We were ninth in the table so we needed that five points. We’ve got them, which moves us into fifth, so we’ve done what we needed to do. We’ll move on to Wasps and start again.
“It was a tough game, we had to work hard for it but we expected that.
“I think we got caught trying to chase the game too early and thinking we needed to score four tries straight away.
“We went in at half time, had a bit of a team talk and concentrated on us, which was what we’d been saying all week, and in the end it paid off.”
It is fifth versus sixth in the table when Tigers return to Aviva Premiership action against Wasps this Saturday. The clash is a 3pm kick-off and with no TV coverage, the only place to watch it live and in full is at Welford Road.
Tickets are available from the Tigers ticket office, on 0116 319 8888 and online by clicking here.
Thacker made an eye-catching contribution to the bonus-point win at London Welsh on Sunday, scoring his first two Aviva Premiership tries in a 26-5 victory.
Tigers could welcome back international hookers Leonardo Ghiraldini and Tom Youngs to their matchday squad for Saturday’s home game against Wasps (3pm). Ghiraldini is available after international duty for Italy while Youngs is back in training following his recovery from injury.
Thacker, who was joined in the front row at Kassam Stadium by Dan Cole, the England and British & Irish Lions prop, and Italy's Michele Rizzo, says he is learning all the time from his experienced colleagues.
"I've a lot to learn,” said the 20-year-old. “I'm enjoying having the opportunity to play with people like Dan Cole and Micky Rizzo, and international hookers like Leo and Tom.
“You learn a lot from them and pick things up, it’s a good experience for everyone.”
Thacker says Tigers did what they had to do in securing the bonus-point win at Welsh, which lifted them four places in the table to fifth.
Thacker scored the first two tries during the first half before Graham Kitchener and Robert Barbieri added a try each after the break.
Thacker said: “We did what we needed to do. We were ninth in the table so we needed that five points. We’ve got them, which moves us into fifth, so we’ve done what we needed to do. We’ll move on to Wasps and start again.
“It was a tough game, we had to work hard for it but we expected that.
“I think we got caught trying to chase the game too early and thinking we needed to score four tries straight away.
“We went in at half time, had a bit of a team talk and concentrated on us, which was what we’d been saying all week, and in the end it paid off.”
It is fifth versus sixth in the table when Tigers return to Aviva Premiership action against Wasps this Saturday. The clash is a 3pm kick-off and with no TV coverage, the only place to watch it live and in full is at Welford Road.
Tickets are available from the Tigers ticket office, on 0116 319 8888 and online by clicking here.
