Leicester Tigers

[RobHawk]

4 hours ago, Noahfence said:

From someone who isn’t a rugby fan but does follow from afar, has there been an investigation done into the link with MND? apologies if that’s a stupid question 

I read this earlier on BBC as I wondered the same: 

 

Elite athletes are disproportionately affected by MND, with a study of Italian footballers suggesting the rate of the disease is up to six times higher than in the general population.

It is thought that by limiting the oxygen available and causing damage to motor neurone cells, regular, strenuous exercise can trigger the disease in those already genetically susceptible.

[Super_horns]

This probably won’t last long without international players then ?

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c0m43d30rjko

[BKLFox]

What a game of rugby that was, brilliant from both sides but well done Tigers for inflicting Bath’s 1st loss of the season.

 

Well done James O’Connor MotM & well done Billy Searle for keeping his nerve at the end.

[EastAnglianFox]

Always nice to stick one on our old foes

[Dr Marco]

Get in!

 

[davieG]

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Paul Dodge’s story doesn’t begin under stadium lights or in front of television cameras. It begins on chilly Leicestershire mornings, the kind where the grass feels slick under your boots and the world smells faintly of mud, determination, and possibility. He was just a kid then — a Syston RFC kid — chasing a ball because something inside him lit up every time he touched it. Nobody knew where it would lead. Maybe he didn’t either.

But talent has a way of nudging you forward. By seventeen, while most teenagers were still figuring themselves out, Dodge was pulling on a Leicester Tigers shirt for the first time, stepping onto the field in that treasured Christmas fixture against the Barbarians. Imagine the nerves. The excitement. The sense that life had suddenly kicked into a higher gear. Two years later England came calling, and Dodge — steady, grounded, unmistakably gifted — walked into Test rugby as if he belonged there all along.

The partnership he formed with Clive Woodward became the sort of pairing coaches dream about: instinctive, balanced, almost telepathic. They carried the Tigers together, they carried England together, and in 1980 they carried the British Lions across South Africa in a tour etched into rugby history. Dodge wasn’t flashy; he didn’t need to be. He was reliable in the way great players often are — the kind of centre who made the space, made the tackle, made the moment matter.

By 1985, the armband found its way to him. Eight times he captained England, leading with quiet authority, the sort that doesn’t need shouting to be felt. Later, in 1987–88, he guided the Tigers too, adding another chapter to a career already overflowing with loyalty and grit. Four hundred and thirty-six games for one club — numbers like that don’t happen unless the jersey becomes part of you.

And when the boots finally came off, Dodge didn’t drift away. He simply shifted roles, giving back to the sport that had carried him so far. First as Leicester’s backs coach in the mid-90s, then nurturing young talent from 1998 onward in the academy. It felt fitting, really — the kid from Syston helping the next generation find their own way onto the field, maybe even into the same colours he once wore with such pride.

Paul Dodge’s journey isn’t just a career; it’s a lifetime stitched into one club, one country, one game. The kind of legacy you don’t measure in caps or appearances alone, but in the quiet, enduring way he shaped the world of rugby around him.

[BKLFox]

George Martin leaving us at the end of the season looks like to Sarries.

Bit torn about it as he is a good player but very injury prone and if he’s just looking at the wedge it’s best to say cheers and see ya 

[RonnieTodger]

This is smash and grab rugby, I love it  

[CWC1983]

Got a freebie tonight so went along. 

 

Absolutely freezing. 

 

Leinster played most of the rugby but Tigers stuck in there. 

Experience and game management saw Leinster get the win.  

 

Loads of Irsh in the crowd. 

[westernpark]

Good effort by the tigers. Enjoyed the game this evening.

[Paninistickers]

Just reading the report on last night's honourable defeat to near enough a test level side....but see they are playing in Cape Town next up. 

 

Anyone know if they run a trip out there? Kinda Tempting....

 

 

[BKLFox]

Nicky Smith leaving also end of the season, Sale his assumed destination.

Shame as the prop positions had been our weakest position but with Smith and Heyes we finally had a pairing that took over from the once Cole/Genge partnership.
Hopefully Haffar or VDF can step up but we might need a bit of experience to fill the gap.

[UniFox21]

On 14/12/2025 at 12:10, BKLFox said:

Nicky Smith leaving also end of the season, Sale his assumed destination.

Shame as the prop positions had been our weakest position but with Smith and Heyes we finally had a pairing that took over from the once Cole/Genge partnership.
Hopefully Haffar or VDF can step up but we might need a bit of experience to fill the gap.

Annoying that he's left because we refuse to offer more than a 2 year deal 

[UniFox21]

Not sure how I feel about this, whilst the league has basically been this way for While, it then kills off any prospects of promotion for those clubs below 

 

 

[BKLFox]

1 hour ago, UniFox21 said:

Annoying that he's left because we refuse to offer more than a 2 year deal 

Yes can't blame him i guess as he's realistically going into his final contract with the 3yrs he's getting at Sale taking him to 35 & probable retirement.

[BKLFox]

1 hour ago, UniFox21 said:

Not sure how I feel about this, whilst the league has basically been this way for While, it then kills off any prospects of promotion for those clubs below 

 

 

You'd image in the short term the aim is to get 2 of Wasps, Worcestor, London Irish back into the top tier to make it a 12 club league, after that realistically the only teams that could probably get themselves promoted would be that 3rd team from that list + Trailfinders maybe after those not sure there is a club that could hold themselves in the Prem even with investment.
After that does it go to 13 or even 14 taking in the 4 clubs mentioned & become a closed shop, if it goes to relegation promotion it'll be the same team(s). Players are picked up from the likes of Nottingham & Coventry but not sure they are big enough to hold their own with the championship being used as feeder / loan options really.
I think it will become a closed shop once they settle on the number of teams soley because of the lack of money about, investors will be reluctant to stay with the jeopardy of relegation hanging over them & like or not it's the only way to keep money in the game...at the same time we also can't have the likes of Red Bull just buying their way to the top.

Probably deserves to go in Rugby Union thread but there is some Tigers content within, Welsh Rugby is being squeezed due to funding & will see their current top 4 teams reduced to 3 with Scarlets or Ospreys folding or merging & with 80 contracts up & a lot of those players jumping ship into English Prem or France it will happen shortly with the likes of Morgan & Lake choosing Gloucester (great steals for Gloucester) for next season.

They then have the knock-on effect of International picks, whilst the eligibility rules have dropped from 60 caps to 25 this is still an issue for the long term success of Welsh rugby as they struggle to overhaul that aging squad they had with younger guys who could be tempted away to the Prem - France, & this is where Tigers come in as they are looking at the current fly-half Dan Edwards who is leading the charge in that position for Wales but being only 22 & not yet reaching the required 25 caps it puts a spanner in the works of Welsh progress.
Dropping to just 3 teams they have to either drop the eligibility cap again or scrap the rule altogether.

[BKLFox]

Exodus continues as Aaron Wainwright is signing for Tigers, great move for us really good back row option.

Ok still to play for Wales obviously with the amount of caps he’s got.

[BKLFox]

Love it commentary team & players taking the mickey out of the ref for wearing gloves with O’Driscoll saying he must be going down the KP after this, nice little dig at footballers 😂 

[BKLFox]

Great game and result just a shame they scored for the bonus point at the death as defence had been superb 

[sm1]

Surprisingly easy victory for us, but I found this and many other games being spoiled by the refereeing. The worse thing is Carley's one of the better refs, especially when compared to Karl Dickson, who normally penalises the hell out of us.

[Super_horns]

Is this the start of the 6 nations going behind a paywall ?

 

https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/en/m6n/news/premier-sports-to-broadcast-live-guinness-mens-six-nations-matches-in-2026

 

Eventually take over the BBCs contract ?

Edited 7 January by Super_horns

[Dr Marco]

GET IN!

 

[BKLFox]

10 minutes ago, Dr Marco said:

GET IN!

 

Brilliant win & Searle making the # 10 spot his own & will be saving the board a large chunk of money in trying to find a long term replacement for Pollard

[CWC1983]

Glasgow also getting a good win today v Clermont away. 

 

Sets up next week against Saracens to see who gets home advantage in the next 2 knockout rounds. 

 

 

[EastAnglianFox]

How on earth have we managed to qualify after 3 defeats from 4 

 

La Rochelle out