If you have ever been to watch rugby in France, you will know the passion that comes from the rugby-mad locals and their support for their team.
Multiply that a few times over when a Champions Cup opponent arrives in town and you have a truly rocking stadium.
Even before the game starts at the Stade Yves Du Manoir, home of Racing 92 in Paris, the away team have a long walk from bus to changing room alongside a wall of home support chanting like a well-rehearsed choir.
On Saturday, the Racing faithful also met the #tigersfamily and the travelling support was heard at every corner of the historic venue.
With the lead changing hands during the game, including a nail-biting final few moments as the hosts pressed the Leicester line looking for a bonus-point score, it was an emotional 80 minutes for both sets of supporters – and couldn’t you feel it!
The ‘Tiiiii-gers’ chant could be heard among the repetitive-roar of the ‘Racing, Racing, Racing’ and although Matt O’Connor and his men were certainly not in the middle of Welford Road, they knew there was support coming from the stands.
It wasn’t lost on the players either, as front-row pair Ellis Genge and Tom Youngs alluded to after the game on Twitter.
“Not the result we wanted. Irrespective of that, thanks a lot to all the travelling support, unreal effort we all appreciate,” said Genge.
The captain shared: “Thanks to all the travelling fans for your support” before adding: “A tough slog made easier with you cheering us on.”
And what about the fans themselves? How was the #tigersontour trip from their perspective?
Andy Reuthe certainly enjoyed not just the return of European rugby but the warm weather in Paris too.
“How good to be going to rugby in mid-October in shirt sleeves wondering whether I should have brought sun cream?” he commented.
Victoria Redshaw was equally pleased as she ticked off a bucket-list item, tweeting that she’d achieved a “Life goal. #Tigersontour in Paris!”
Post-match and back on English soil, long-time supporter Anne Dawkins was positive following the narrow defeat and another adventure with the #tigersfamily away from home.
“Home from another quality European rugby adventure,” she shared on Twitter, adding: “We’ll be there for many more to come.”
Tigers return to home territory this weekend when Castres Olympique arrive to Welford Road.
As skipper Youngs said: “On to Castres at home next week we go.”
To join the crowd cheering on the team, you can book your places now, in person at the Welford Road ticket office, by phoning 0116 318 8888 (option 2)(open 9.00am-5.00pm Monday-Saturday) or online any time.
