This partnership builds on years of involvement that the Tigers has had with the local community. The partnership has been spearheaded at Leicester by the Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Robert Burgess and Assistant Registrar Jo Wood.
It follows the announcement in September that the University would host young talent for the Tigers Academy.
The University has enhanced its range of sporting facilities over the past year with the opening of two new Sports Centres and this new agreement will initially enable students of the University to attend Tigers matches at heavily discounted rates, alongside opportunities for hospitality and taking part in the Big Boot opportunity to win a cash prize that could be ploughed back into the Rugby Society.
Professor Burgess said: “We are delighted to begin a new partnership with the Leicester Tigers which reflects our ‘elite without being elitist’ philosophy and desire to ensure that all students, regardless of their background, have access to world class sporting activity.”
Mrs Jo Wood added: “This partnership will give sport an even stronger profile in the University and reduced price tickets will give all students the opportunity to experience sport at this level. Our sports facilities have improved significantly over the past year and this partnership will make Leicester even more attractive to students interested in sport. We are delighted to be working with the Leicester Tigers in this way and look forward to developing the partnership further in the coming years.”
Simon Cohen, Chief Executive of Leicester Tigers, said: “Matchdays at Welford Road are always big occasions and we’re delighted to be able to share them with more and more visitors each season, including visitors and newcomers to the area. We look forward to welcoming the students from University of Leicester throughout the season.”
Under the partnership, the Club will work with the University in a number of ways including:
• Discounted membership fee for students to obtain a discount on all Tigers first team home games.
• Free entry to all who sign up to the membership to the Tigers versus Bath fixture at the end of January.
• Free entry to Tigers 'A' League home games.
• ‘Big Boot’ at the Bath match for 10 students to attempt to win a cash prize that will go to the Rugby Society
Welcoming the agreement, Dan Flatt, President of the Students’ Union said: “On behalf of all students, it’s utterly fantastic to see the University begin a partnership with such a world class rugby club. I am sure that the partnership will flourish and achieve some great things.”
The University and the Tigers have also agreed joint branding and promotion arrangements and further discussions will occur to develop the partnership in future years.
Leicester Tigers has already teamed up with the University for the Tigers Academy- the most successful in the country. The University has allocated a property in Manor Road, Oadby – which is part of their ‘student village’ – to provide a ‘home from home’ for a new intake of young players into the Tigers Academy.
The University property has become home to 11 young players in their first year in the Academy. Together with living accommodation and study space, the property has been decorated to include images of Tigers Academy and youth team graduates including World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson, former England captain Paul Dodge and England internationals Graham Rowntree, Louis Deacon and Harry Ellis, as well as its most recent successes on the Lions tour.
