6 Tigers out in Loan Action

6 members of Tigers development squad have been named in loan action this weekend.

In the Championship 3 Tigers are in the Nottingham side to face Ealing Trailfinders. 

Winger Henry Purdy and centre George Catchpole start for the Green 'n' Whites whilst prop Ryan Bower is on the bench behind Fijian international Campese Ma'afu and former Tiger Michael Holford.

In National League 1 Doncaster face Worthing Raiders.  They start with 20 year old Italian Riccardo Brugnara at loosehead and Frenchman Lucas Guillame at flanker.  19 year old tighthead Tiziano Pasquali is amongst the replacements.  

Both young props face further stiff competition as the Knights have signed experienced Argentinean prop Santiago Sodini from Duendes Rugby Club in Rosario for the rest of the season.

Nottingham:
15) Andrew Savage 14) Henry Purdy
13) George Catchpole
12) Joe Munro
11) Olly Woodburn
10) Rory Lynn
9) Sean Romans
1) Campese Ma'afu
2) Alun Walker
3) Michael Holford
4) Neilus Keogh
5) Dan Montagu
6) Will Skuse
7) Brent Wilson (c)
8) Tom Calladine
Replacements:
16) Ryan Bower
17) Jon Vickers
18) Morgan Eames
19) Joe Burton
20) Finlay Barnham
21) Matthew Jarvis
22) Ryan Hough

Doncaster
15) Glenn Bryce
14) Dougie Flockhart
13) Mat Clark
12) Bevon Armitage
11) Tyson Lewis
10) Paul Roberts
9) Bruno Bravo 1) Riccardo Brugnara
2) Roberto Santamaria
3) Darren Morris
4) Matt Challinor ©
5) Michael Walker-Fitton 6) Lucas Guillame
7) Michael Hills
8) Adam Kettle
Replacements
16) Tiziano Pasquali
17) Jack Bergmanas
18) Chris Planchant
19) Jamie Lennard
20) Jacob Woodhouse

Six Tiger Cubs in Loan Action

Six members of Tigers Development Squad are out in loan action this weekend as they seek to broaden their experiences and force their way into Richard Cockerill's first team squad.

In the Greene King IPA Championship Nottingham have named 4 Tigers players in their squad that travels to Rotherham.  The Green 'n' Whites suffered cut backs over the summer and are languishing in 9th place, whilst home side Rotherham are riding high in 3rd.

Ryan Bower starts at loosehead with Javiah Pohe and Henry Purdy in the backs.  Pohe starts at inside centre and Purdy on the right wing.  Recent Tigers Man of the Match Harry Thacker is on the bench and will make his league debut if used.

Also named are former Tigers Michael Holford, Dan Montague and Brent Wilson in the pack; with half back pairing Finlay Barnham and Rory Lynn also spending time at the Oval Park academy.

Nottingham (To play Rotherham):
15) Ed Styles
14) Henry Purdy
13) Joe Munro  
12) Javiah Pohe
11) Ryan Hough
10) Rory Lynn
9)  Finlay Barnham
1)  Ryan Bower
2)  Alun Walker
3)  Michael Holford
4)  Neilus Keogh
5)  Dan Montagu
6)  Tom Calladine
7)  Brent Wilson (c)
8)  Alex Shaw
Replacements
16) Harry Thacker
17) Harry Williams
18) Kiefer Laxton
19) Joe Burton
20) Sean Romans
21) Matthew Jarvis
22) Jacob Knight

In SSE National League 1 table toppers Doncaster travel to St.Albans to face Old Albanians.  Italian Tighthead prop Tiziano Pasquali starts his second consecutive game as the Yorkshire men try to bounce back to the Championship at the first time of asking.

New loan signing Lucas Guillaume is named on a 5 man bench.  Not named in the squad but announced as signing Dual Registration terms this week was Riccardo Brugnara.  The Italian has played all across the front row but is primarily a loosehead prop.  

One other stand out name in the Doncaster side is Tigers legend Darren "Dazzler" Morris.  Morris played 75 times for the club between 2003 and 2006.  The 39 year old is still going strong after a recent 9 game spell with Kuban Krasnodar in the Russian Premier League. 

Doncaster (To play St. Albans):
15) Glenn Bryce
14) Paul Jarvis
13) Stephen Bannister
12) Bevon Armitage
11) Tyson Lewis
10) Paul Roberts
9) Bruno Bravo
1) Darren Morris
2) Roberto Santamaria 
3) Tiziano Pasquali
4) Glen Kenworthy
5) Mike Walker-Fitton
6) Matt Challinor ©
7) Shaun Jones
8) Adam Kettle
Replacements: 
16) Jack Bergmanas
17) Ben Hunter
18) Lucas Guillaume 
19) Jamie Lennard
20) James Munro

Academy Trio Play for Nottingham on loan

Nottingham Rugby have selected 3 Tigers in their starting XV to London Scottish in Richmond this Saturday.

Winger Henry Purdy is named for his Championship debut whilst he is joined in the Notts backline by fellow England Under 20s back George Catchpole who plays 13.  Catchpole, originally from Norfolk, has played 13 in the previous two Notts games this season.

In the pack Tom Price is preferred to Neilus Keogh who moves to the bench.  Price impressed off the bench against London Welsh last season.

The bench sees another dual registered player as Ryan Bower covers loosehead prop.

Former Tigers Harrison Lee-Everton, Brent Wilson and Alex Shaw start whilst Michael Holford and Rory Lynn are ex-Tigers on the bench.

Nottingham Rugby
15) Ed Styles
14) Henry Purdy
13) George Catchpole
12) Joe Munro
11) Ryan Hough
10) Matthew Jarvis
9) Harrison Lee-Everton
1) Campese Ma'afu
2) Jon Vickers
3) Harry Williams
4) Tom Price
5) Dan Montagu
6) Tom Calladine
7) Brent Wilson (c)
8) Alex Shaw
Replacements
16)  Ryan Bower
17)  Scott Wright
18)  Michael Holford
19)  Neilus Keogh
20)  Joe Burton
21)  Sean Romans
22)  Rory Lynn

6th Sense for Nottingham

6 Tigers are in Championship action this weekend as Nottingham take on Leeds at Headingley.  Leeds are 4th and need a win to secure a Play Off berth whilst Nottingham, in the week they announced they £250,000 to stay in business, have secured 2nd place and avoid Newcastle in the Semi Finals.

Alex Lewington and Jonny Harris both start after formerly announcing that they will be playing their rugby for London Irish next season and they are joined in the first XV by Ryan Bower and Harrison Lee-Everton.  Lee-Everton is the 13th Tigers player to feature on loan in the Championship this season.

Tom Price and Andy Forsyth are both named on the replacements bench to round out the 6.  Another 5 players in the match day squad have previously been on the books at Tigers.

London Irish's Alex Gray who will transfer to full time 7s next season is also named in the side. 

Nottingham Rugby:
15 David Jackson 
14 Alex Lewington 
13 Joe Cobden 
12 Joe Munro
11 Rhys Crane 
10 Rory Lynn 
9 Harrison Lee-Everton
1 Jonny Harris 
2 Joe Duffey 
3 Ryan Bower 
4 Dan Montagu
5 Joe Quinn 
6 Rupert Cooper 
7 Tom Calladine 
8 Alex Gray.
Replacements:
16 Shaun Malton 
17 Michael Holford 
18 Tom Price 
19 Phil Eggleshaw
20 Sean Romans 
21 James Arlidge 
22 Andy Forsyth.

4 Tigers to Face Pirates this Sunday

Tom Price makes his return to action this weekend after being named on the bench for promotion chasing Nottingham as they face Cornish Pirates live on Sky tomorrow lunch time.  

Price was making his debut for the Leicester first team when he went down at an innocuous looking ruck.  With the game not being recorded for TV it is still something of a mystery what happened next; but the result of it was Price being unconscious on the pitch for 10 minutes, requiring oxygen and being stretchered straight into the Infirmary.

It is remarkable that it is only 11 weeks later and he is back in action.  Tigers opponents that day were Wasps, the poet in me wishes he was named on our bench not Nottingham's but I'll take my victories where I find them.

Alex Lewington is set to start his 12th game of the season for the Green 'n' Whites and is joined by Jonny Harris making his 4th start at loosehead prop.  The pair have been heavily linked with leaving Tigers in the summer to join up with former Nottingham coach Glenn Delaney at London Irish.  The other edge of the Dual Registration sword. 

The 4th member of this motley crew is Ryan Bower who will join Price on the bench.  Bower is a regular in the Nottingham match day squad and is looking to make his 17th appearance in the Championship this season. 

A further seven of the Nottingham side have played for Tigers at either First XV, Extras or Academy level.

Nottingham
15 Andrew Savage 
14 Alex Lewington  
13 Tim Streather 
12 Joe Munro 
11 Rhys Crane 
10 James Arlidge 
9 Sean Romans
1 Jonny Harris 
2 Joe Duffey 
3 Michael Holford 
4 Dan Montagu 
5 Nic Rouse 
6 Rupert Cooper 
7 Brent Wilson (c) 
8 Alex Shaw.
Replacements
16 Shaun Malton 
17 Ryan Bower 
18 Tom Price 
19 Tom Calladine 
20 Finlay Barnham 
21 Joe Cobden 
22 David Jackson.

Jersey to start Clarefully

6 Tigers are in Championship action this weekend as they go out on loan in a quest to gain more experience and convince Richard Cockerill to give them a place in Tigers regular 23.

Charlie Clare will make his first start in the Championship for Jersey as they take on London Scottish at the Richmond Athletic Ground this Saturday.  Clare over takes David Felton after 3 appearances from the substitutes bench.

On Sunday at Meadow Lane Harry Wells becomes the 12th Tigers player to go out on a dual registration deal this season and the 8th to go to Nottingham.  He is the third Tigers lock to try his hand for the Green 'n' Whites after Joe Cain and Tom Price both suffered injuries.  Wells is named on the bench alongside Jonny Harris and Andy Forsyth whilst Alex Lewington makes his 6th start of the season for his home town team.  Ryan Bower comes into the starting XV after Iron Mike Holford was ruled out through injury and makes his first start since November.

Jersey
1 Sean McCarthy 
2 Charlie Clare 
3 Jon Brennan 
4 Nathan Hannay
5 Dave Markham 
6 Charlie Walker-Blair 
7 Fred Silcock 
8 Guy Thompson
9 Nicky Griffiths (capt) 
10 Michael Le Bourgeois 
11 Ed Dawson
12 Mark McCrea 
13 Max Stelling 
14 Mark Foster 
15 Barry Davies
Replacements
16 Richard Barrington 
17 Dave Felton 
18 James Gethings 
19 Talite Vaioleti 
20 Kingsley Lang 
21 Dave McCormack 
22 Donovan Sanders

Nottingham
15 Andrew Savage 
14 David Jackson 
13 Joe Cobden 
12 Joe Munro
11 Alex Lewington 
10 James Arldige 
9 Sean Romans
1 Matt Parr 
2 Joe Duffey 
3 Ryan Bower 
4 Joe Quinn
5 Nic Rouse 
6 Rupert Cooper 
7 Brent Wilson 
8 Alex Shaw
Replacements
16 Shaun Malton  
17 Jonny Harris 
18 Harry Wells 
19 Tom Calladine 
20 Finlay Barnham 
21 Rory Lynn 
22 Andy Forsyth.

Price is Right for Nottingham

Tom Price could become the 7th Tigers player to feature for Nottingham this season as he is named on the Green 'n' Whites bench for their trip to Rotherham.  Fellow Tigers Alex Lewington and Jonny Harris are named as starters whilst Ryan Bower and Andy Forsyth are also on the bench.  Elsewhere Jersey name Charlie Clare on the bench for their trip to Moseley and on New Year's Day Andy Symons played the second half for Doncaster as they lost to Newcastle, Kieran Brookes left the field with a suspected broken collarbone on 54 minutes.

Nottingham side to face Rotherham:
15 David Jackson 14 Alex Lewington 13 Tim Streather 12 Joe Munro
11 Rhys Crane 10 James Arlidge 9 Sean Romans 1 Jonny Harris 2 Shaun Malton 3 Michael Holford 4 Dan Montagu
5 Nic Rouse 6 Rupert Cooper 7 Brent Wilson 8 Tom Calladine.
Replacements
16 Scott Wright 17 Ryan Bower 18 Tom Price 19 Alex Shaw
20 Finlay Barnham 21 Joe Cobden 22 Andy Forsyth.

Jersey side to face Moseley:
1 Sean McCarthy 2 Dave Felton 3 Jon Brennan 4 Nathan Hannay (capt)
5 Dave Markham 6 Graham Bell 7 Kingsley Lang 8 Guy Thompson
9 Nicky Griffiths 10 Mike Le Bourgeois 11 Ed Dawson 12 Dai Bishop
13 Max Stelling 14 James Copsey 15 Glenn Bryce
Replacements
16 Richard Barrington 17 Charlie Clare 18 James Gethings 19 Rob Anderson
20 Brendan O’Brien 21 Ross Broadfoot 22 Tom Cooper

3 Tigers to face Pirates on loan

3 Tigers are named in Nottingahm's match day squad for their trip to Penzanzce to face the Cornish Pirates.  Alex Lewington starts on the right wing, Andy Forsyth slots onto the bench after taking the same place last week for the Tigers against Wasps and Ryan Bower joins him on the bench as Michael Holford returns to the Green 'n' Whites after his sojourn in Leicester colours last week.

Notts:
15 David Jackson  
14 Alex Lewington 
13 Tim Streather 
12 Joe Munro
11 Rhys Crane 
10 James Arlidge 
9 Sean Romans
1 Marr Parr 
2 Joe Duffey 
3 Michael Holford 
4 Dan Montagu
5 Nic Rouse 
6 Rupert Cooper 
7 Brent Wilson 
8 Alex Shaw
Replacements:
16 Shaun Malton 17 Ryan Bower 18 Joe Quinn 19 Tom Calladine 20 Finlay Barnham 21 Joe Cobden 22 Andy Forsyth

Exclusive: Iron Mike Holford joins Tigers on Loan

EXCLUSIVE: Iron Mike Holford has rejoined the Tigers on a short term loan from Nottingham to cover the 5 props missing to International calls, injury and suspension.  Mike has played 58 games in the Stripes, including 4 games last year during the World Cup; and can provide cover at both loosehead, where he made his initial impact in the first team, and tighthead where he has played 8 times for Nottingham this season.

Loan Props taste defeat

Two Tigers were out on loan this weekend as Ryan Bower played the last 7 minutes for Nottingham, away to Bedford losing 27-25, whilst Kieran Brookes started at tighthead for Loughborough Students as they crashed to another defeat in National League 1 this time away to Coventry 41-34.

Loan Ranger Bower Starts for Notts

Young prop Ryan Bower has been named for his first start of the season for Nottingham as they take on Rotherham Titans on Sunday.  Other loanees Jimmy Stevens and Johnny Harris are named on the bench.

Bower and Stevens named on bench for Notts

Prop Ryan Bower and hooker Jimmy Stevens have both been named as replacements for Nottingham's season opening fixture verses Leeds at Meadow Lane on Friday.

Ex-Tigers Joe Duffy,Matt Parr,Michael Holford,Dan Montague, Brent Wilson and Alex Shaw all start in the pack with with ex-Academy trio Finley Barnham, Rory Lynn and Joe Cobden named as replacements.

The Leeds side features two ex-Tigers in the second row as debutant Calum Green joins Dan Hemingway.

12 to go out on Loan?

Simon Cohen has revealed that up to 12 of Tigers youngsters may go out on loan to gain first team experience.  And unlike in previous years Nottingham will not gain an automatic monopoly.  Already confirmed is Hinckley boy Ryan Bower returning to Nottingham where he gained rave reviews last year, he will compete with Soar Valley's Michael Holford and another ex-Tiger in Matt Parr.  

But who could the other 12 be and where might they go?  Nottingham seem very thin on props and locks, especially after Mitchell Todd's sad death, so might we see Johnny Allen or Fraser Balmain go to help out on the loosehead and perhaps Joe Cain to help out in the second row.  Richard De Carpentier suffered with injuries last year but looked impressive in his cameos, he may well get another shot somewhere.  

In the backs Scott Steele, once he regains fitness, may well be farmed out to smooth some of his rough edges whilst Andy Forsyth and Alex Lewington might also be loaned out for game time.  In the younger generation Cornish-Maori Javiah Pohe is a bright prospect.

Nottingham is an obvious location for lots of these players, though with Glen Delaney being replaced with ex-Bath lock Martin Haag perhaps Tigers will be more circumspect with the less experienced coach.  Rotherham Titans might be best placed to benefit, Andre Bester is a highly thought of coach with a similar hard working philosophy to that of Tigers. Moseley, Bedford and Doncaster might also benefit, especially Doncaster as Moseley already have some loan players from Northampton and Bedford from Saracens.

Vereniki Very Goody!

Tigers new flying Fijian Vereniki Goneva had a home debut to remember grabbing a brace of tries against local rivals Nottingham as Tigers romped to a ten-try 64-7 win.  Opposite winger Scotty Hamilton also bagged a brace, whilst Alex Lewington also chipped in with a try to round off a prolific day for the Welford Wingers!

Both Goneva and Hamilton had potential hat trick scores ruled out, with Goneva also providing the scoring pass for try number 7, scored by Tony Allen.

Tigers other scores came from backrow trio JC, on his first Welford Road appearance for over a year, Richard "Thorpedo" Thorpe, also a home debutant,  and Thomas "The Tank" Waldrom.  

Nottingham started with 6 ex-Tigers and their score was by one of that number Matt Parr from a charged down Micky Young kick.