Loan Players: 9 in Action

Tigers development squad continues its learning curve this week as 9 members are out on loan learning the ropes of professional rugby.

Tonight Nottingham face Munster A in the British & Irish Cup.  Ryan Bower and Tom Price return to the pack and will be looking to press their claims for Championship action.  George Catchpole continues in midfield whilst Harry Thacker is in line for his Nottingham debut should he feature from the bench.

Doncaster welcome Cinderford to Castle Park as they seek an immediate return to the Championship.  Italian Prop Riccardo Brugnara retains his place at loosehead whilst Lucas Guillame switches from blindside to Number 8.

Tiziano Pasquali is a member of the wider European squad so presumably is required in Treviso with the first team.

Loughborough Students travel to east London to face historic opponents Blackheath.  Harry Rudkin is named as loosehead, though he was named last week and had to pull out, whilst Harry Wells continues in the engine room at lock.  Scott Steele drops to the bench after starting last week.  Former academy player Jake Albon is also in the Starting XV.

Nottingham (v Munster A)
15) Andrew Savage
14) Olly Woodburn
13) George Catchpole
12) Joe Munro
11) Ryan Hough
10) Matthew Jarvis
9) Sean Romans
1) Ryan Bower
2) Alun Walker
3) Harry Williams
4) Tom Price
5) Dan Montagu
6) Kiefer Laxton
7) Brent Wilson (c)
8) Tom Calladine
Replacements:
16) Campese Ma'afu
17) Harry Thacker
18) Michael Holford
19 Neilus Keogh
20) Finlay Barnham
21) Rory Lynn
22) Jacob Knight

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

Loughborough (v Blackheath)
1 Harry Rudkin 
2 Gareth Harris 
3 Danny Herriot 
4 Jack Collister 
5 Harry Wells 
6 Jake Albon 
7 James Freeman (C) 
8 George Messum 
9 Henry Taylor 
10 Chris Surman 
11 Alex Davis 
12 Jack Bradford 
13 Rhys Owen 
14 Craig Dowsett 
15 Jack Pons
Replacements
16 Mike Daniels 
17 Tom Crozier 
18 Gab Carroll 
19 Scott Steele 
20 Sam Katz

Loan Report: Joy for Donny, but no Home Comforts for Notts or Students

8 members of Leicester Tigers Development Squad were in action this weekend as they seek to gain experience and push for a first team opportunity.

On Saturday National League 1 leaders Doncaster traveled to the imaginatively named "Rugby Ground" and beat newly promoted Worthing 21-17 courtesy of a penalty try engineered by 20 year old loosehead Riccardo Brugnara.  Brugnara played almost the whole match, not being replaced until the 77th minute, as the Knights remained in pole position for a promotion to the Championship.  Flanker Lucas Guillaume played the whole match on the blindside whilst 19 year old tighthead Tiziano Pasquali played the final half hour after replacing Darren Morris.

Loughborough Students did not have such a good weekend falling at home to Wharfedale 27-7.  20 year old Scottish scrum half Scott Steele made his first start for the Students before being replaced in the 50th minute whilst Harry Wells played the whole match from the second row.  The Students started brightly with an early try giving them a 7-0 lead; but that was as good as it got for the Students as the experienced Yorkshire side pulled away from them with two tries in 5 minutes during the second half.

On Sunday struggling Nottingham entertained Ealing at Meadow Lane.  The Londoners had only won one game in their inaugural season at the second level whilst Nottingham finished last season 2nd in the regular season.  As you can probably guess from that build up it was the visitors from London who shocked the Midlanders with a 28-27 win.  

Outside backs Henry Purdy and George Catchpole played the whole match whilst Ryan Bower emerged from the replacements bench in the 55th minute for Fijian loosehead Campese Ma'afu.  Nottingham scored 4 tries with scores for Bath wing Ollie Woodburn and a hat trick for former Tigers flanker Brent Wilson.

Just Gr8 experience for Tigers Development Squad

8 members of the Leicester Tigers development squad will be in dual registration action this weekend.  Nottingham and Doncaster have 3 Tigers a piece whilst Loughborough Students have 2 young Tigers in the tight five.

In the Greene King IPA Championship Ryan Bower will start for Nottingham against the Cornish Pirates.  Bower plays his 39th game in his third season dual registered with the Green 'n' Whites.  Also involved are Tom Price and Harry Thacker who are named on the bench.  Former Tigers in the Nottingham squad include Finlay Barnham, Rory Lynn, Michael Holford, Dan Montague, Alex Shaw and Brent Wilson.  

One level further down there is also plenty of interest as Doncaster face Rosslyn Park whilst Loughborough Students are at home to Cinderford in SSE National League 1.

Italian tighthead Tiziano Pasquali continues his apprenticeship at this level for the Knights and he is joined in the starting XV by Lucas Guillaume.  Guillaume made his Doncaster debut from the bench in last week's victory against Esher which saw the Yorkshire men return to the top of the pile.  Further Tigers interest is on the bench with Riccardo Brugnara.  The 19 year old loosehead from Italy could make his league debut if he features and if he replaces ex-Tiger Darren Morris in the front row the Knights will be fielding an all-Italian front row alongside Parsquali and countryman Santamaria.

Rosslyn Park are Doncaster's closest challengers at this stage so it is a big vote of confidence in the Tigers trio to be included.

Loughborough feature England Under 20s forwards Harry Rudkin at loosehead and Harry Wells at lock.  Wells featured from the bench last week and partners former Tigers academy captain Jake Albon in the engine room. 

Loughborough Students:
1 Harry Rudkin 
2 Jacob Fields 
3 Danny Herriot 
4 Harry Wells 
5 Jake Albon 
6 James Freeman (C) 
7 Eoin Cremen 
8 Ben Pons 
9 Henry Taylor 
10 Chris Surman 
11 Alex Davis 
12 Jack Bradford 
13 Rhys Owen 
14 Craig Dowsett 
15 Jack Pons 
Replacements:
16 Biyi Alo 
17 Gareth Harris 
18 Christian S-W 
19 Tom Bliss 
20 George Eastwell

Doncaster:
15. Glenn Bryce
14. Paul Jarvis
13. Mat Clark
12. Bevon Armitage
11. Tyson Lewis
10. Paul Roberts
9. Bruno Bravo
1. Darren Morris
2. Roberto Santamaria
3. Tiziano Pasquali
4. Matt Challinor (C)
5. Michael Walker-Fitton
6. Lucas Guillame
7. Shaun Jones
8. Adam Kettle
Replacements
16. Riccardo Brugnara
17. Ben Hunter
18. Glen Kenworthy
19. James Munro
20. Jamie Lennard.

Nottingham
15) Andrew SAVAGE
14) Sean MORRIS
13) Ed STYLES
12) Joe MUNRO
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 (Captain)
8) Alex SHAW
Replacements
16) Harry THACKER
17) Harry WILLIAMS
18) Tom PRICE
19) Joe BURTON
20) Sean ROMANS
21) Matthew JARVIS
22) Jacob KNIGHT

Magnificent 7 gain experience on loan

7 members of the Leicester Tigers development squad featured in loan action this weekend across 3 sides.

Javiah Pohe was a try scorer for Nottingham in a losing effort away to Rotherham; the game also saw Henry Purdy leave the field injured after 25 minutes.  Ryan Bower started at loosehead.

In National League Division One Italian tighthead Tiziano Pasquali played the whole game for Doncaster as the defeated Old Albanians 33-17 in St Albans.  French flanker Lucas Guillaume played the final 23 minutes for the Yorkshiremen.  

Harry Rudkin played at loosehead for Loughborough Students as they travelled to Hull Ionians and won 26-24.  Harry Wells was a half time replacement in the second row and he was shown yellow in the closing stages as the Students hung on for victory.

Two Tigers Lock in place for Junior World Cup

Two Leicester Locks have been named in England's Under 20s squad for this summer's Junior World Cup to be held in France.  20 year old Tom Price, originally from Stratford, and 19 year old Harry Wells, from Peterborough, have been selected by head coaches Nick Walshe and Ian Peel.  

Both Price and Wells have made their first team debuts this season; Price starting the LV Cup at home to Wasps before his injury gave Wells his debut in the same game before starting against the Scarlets in Llanelli a week later.

Wells has also been a regular in the A League over the last two seasons starting 6 games with a further 3 appearances from the bench over the past 2 seasons, scoring one try at home to Sale last season.  Price has been used less in the A League starting only once, against Newcastle in March 2011, and featuring a further 4 times as a sub.

The two Tigers' Tyros will face competition from Leeds' Dominic Barrow and Gloucester's Elliot Stooke for the locking berths; though versatile Wells played flanker in England's victorious Six Nations campaign, bagging two tries in the final game against Wales.

England will play all their group games in La Roche-sur-Yon on the Atlantic coast; they start the tournament against hosts France on Wednesday June 5th before facing last year's World Champions South Africa, dubbed the "Baby Boks", 4 days later.  They round off the tournament with what they would hope will be an easier game against the USA, though the Americans qualified for this tournament by winning the Junior World Trophy last summer so will be no mugs.  

England Under20 squad:
Forwards: Dom Barrow (Leeds Carnegie), Jack Clifford (Harlequins), Joel Conlon (Exeter Chiefs), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Matt Hankin (Saracens), Alec Hepburn (London Wasps), Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby), Nathan Morris (London Wasps), Tom Price (Leicester Tigers), David Sisi (London Irish), Tom Smallbone (London Irish), Scott Spurling (Saracens), Elliott Stooke (Gloucester Rugby), Harry Wells (Leicester Tigers), Scott Wilson (Newcastle Falcons).
Backs: Callum Braley (Bristol Rugby), Alex Day (Northampton Saints), Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby), Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs), Will Hooley (Northampton Saints), Ben Howard (Worcester Warriors), Mark Jennings (Sale Sharks), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Harry Sloan (Harlequins), Tom Stephenson (Northampton Saints), Anthony Watson (London Irish).

Fixtures:
Game 1 – England v France, Wednesday June 5, 17:45 (GMT)
Game 2 – England v South Africa, Sunday June 9, 15:45 (GMT)
Game 3 – England v USA, Thursday June 13, 17:45 (GMT)
Semi-final – Tuesday June 18
Final – Sunday June 23

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.

2 Tigers for Le Petite Crunch

2 Tigers academy players have been named in England Under 20s side to take on their French equivalents at Worcester's Sixways this Saturday.  Henry Purdy retains his place on the wing from the close loss away to Ireland whilst Harry Wells moves into the starting lineup to replace Ross Moriarty; the Gloucester flanker was red carded in the last match for a tip tackle and banned for 7 weeks.  Wells's move mirrors the senior England teams decision to play Courtney Lawes at blindside as he has played most of his rugby at Tigers as a lock.


England:
15 Ben Howard (Worcester Warriors)  
14 Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers)
13 Mark Jennings (Sale Sharks)
12 Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
11 Jack Arnott (Exeter Chiefs)
10 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
9 Alex Day (Northampton Saints)
1 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
2 Nathan Morris (London Wasps)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
4 Elliott Stooke (Gloucester Rugby)
5 Dom Barrow (Leeds Carnegie)
6 Harry Wells (Leicester Tigers)
7 Joel Conlon (Exeter Chiefs)
8 Jack Clifford (Harlequins) (c)
Replacements
16 Danny Herriott (Northampton Saints)
17 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints)
18 Scott Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
19 Tom Jubb (Saracens)
20 David Sisi (London Irish)
21 Callum Braley (Bristol Rugby)
22 Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby)
23 Tom Stephenson (Northampton Saints)

2 Tigers in U-20s for Irish test

5 days after making his first team debut against Llanelli Scarlets lock Harry Wells is set to make his bow for England at Under 20 level away to Ireland.  Released from England duty last week to cover for Saxons trio Graham Kitchener, Ed Slater and Louis Deacon Wells come straight on to the bench.  Into the team is winger Henry Purdy who has made a big impact since his summer move from Wasps, scoring 6 tries in 4 A league games as well as 1 try in 3 U-18 League games.  He replaces the injured Anthony Watson from London Irish, allegedly a summer transfer target for Tigers, as Ben Howard switches to Full Back from wing.

England Under 20s
15 Ben Howard (Worcester Warriors)
14 Jack Arnott (Exeter Chiefs)
13 Mark Jennings (Sale Sharks)
12 Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
11 Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers)
10 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
9 Alex Day (Northampton Saints)
1 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints)
2 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
3 Scott Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
4 Elliott Stooke (Gloucester Rugby)
5 Dom Barrow (Leeds Carnegie)
6 Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby)
7 Joel Conlon (Exeter Chiefs)
8 Jack Clifford (C) (Harlequins)
Replacements
16 Max Crumpton (Saracens)
17 Nathan Morris (London Wasps)
18 Danny Herriott (Northampton Saints)
19 Tom Jubb (Saracens)
20 Harry Wells (Leicester Tigers)
21 Nathan Fowles (Sale Sharks)
22 Will Hooley (Northampton Saints)
23 Tom Collins (Northampton Saints)

3 Tiger Cubs named in England Under 20s

3 Tigers Academy players are today celebrating a call up to the England Under 20s Elite Player Squad (EPS) for the Under 20s Six Nations starting in Plymouth against Scotland on Friday February 1st.  

Lock forward Tom Price, who will turn 20 between now and the first game, has just made his Championship debut off the bench for Nottingham whilst fellow lock forward Harry Wells, from Spalding in Lincolnshire, is selected after an ever present season for the A team; starting 3 games and coming from the bench in the other two.  Both of those players were named in the squad announced earlier in the year.

A new call up is for try scoring sensation Henry Purdy.  6 tries in 4 starts for the A team catapulted the right winger into the frame for the first team, taking advantage of the Maori match to make his First XV debut in the LV Cup loss away to Saracens.  Purdy, a summer signing from Wasps, is also comfortable in the centres where he plays for the Academy and last year played for England U-18s.

England Under-20 Elite Player Squad 2012/13
*Capped at Under 20 level
Forwards
Luke Cowan Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)*
Alec Hepburn (London Wasps)*
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)*
Scott Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
Max Crumpton (Saracens)*
Nathan Morris (London Wasps)*
Scott Spurling (Saracens)*
Dominic Barrow (Leeds Carnegie)*  
Tom Price (Leicester Tigers)*
Elliott Stooke (Gloucester Rugby)*
Tom Jubb (Saracens)
Jack Clifford (Harlequins)*
David Sisi (London Irish)*
Matt Hankin (Saracens)
Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby)
Harry Wells (Leicester Tigers)
 
Backs
Alex Day (Northampton Saints)*
Nathan Fowles (Sale Sharks)
Callum Braley (Bristol Rugby)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)*
Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby)
Will Hooley (Northampton Saints)
Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)*
Mark Jennings (Sale Sharks)
Tom Stephenson (Northampton Saints)
Tom Collins (Northampton Saints)
Harry Sloan (Harlequins)
Jack Arnott (Exeter Chiefs)
Ben Howard (Worcester Warriors)
Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers)
Anthony Watson (London Irish)*
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)

Wells and Price named for England Under 20s

Academy forwards Harry Wells and Tom Price have both been named in England's Under 20s Elite Player Squad for the 2012/13 season.  

Price, a 6'9" lock originally from Stratford-upon-Avon, retains his place from last years squad.  Born on 22nd January he will be one of the oldest players in the age group which has a cut off date of the 1st of January.

Wells, a lock-cum-flanker is a Peterborough native and this is his first call up by England at any level.