An opening block of four Premiership Rugby Cup games will help ‘battle-harden’ Leicester Tigers’ squad, according to second-rower Harry Wells.
The 25-year-old appeared in more matches than any other Tigers player last season, and hopes to ‘set the tone’ for the new campaign with an opener against Worcester Warriors at Sixways Stadium this Saturday, September 21 (3.00pm).
“This a good chance for us to hit the ground rolling and test ourselves, and get battle-hardened for the start of the Premiership,” the lock explained.
“It starts from week one, and this is an opportunity for us to set the tone, get that physical hit-out and see how fit we are and impose ourselves on opposition teams.
“You always want to put in a first-rate performance, but ultimately the most important thing is making sure we’re ready to go at the start of the Premiership season.”
“We’re just raring to go now.”
Harry Wells
Following a trip to the West Midlands, Geordan Murphy’s men take on Exeter Chiefs at Welford Road next Friday, September 27 (7.45pm) ahead of clashes with Bath Rugby and Northampton Saints.
The full domestic campaign kicks off on Saturday, October 19 with another trip to Worcester.
With the Premiership Rugby Cup traditionally seen as an opportunity to blood up-and-coming players, Tigers Academy graduate Wells is excited by the prospect of an exciting young side taking to the field for Saturday’s opener.
“I guess it all depends how you want to measure success,” he continued.
“Success might be giving players the best opportunity to start in the Prem, so this weekend we’ve got one of the youngest teams that we’ve ever fielded. It’s 70% academy graduates and that reflects really well on the club.
“The fact that that many young players are playing first-team rugby can be seen as a success in its own right because that many players have earned their stripes and are being given an opportunity.
“We’re going to be working extremely hard for the club, and showing what the club means to us.
“We’ve righted a few wrongs during pre-season and we’re just raring to go now.”
