Leicester Tigers name side to play Bristol Bears
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Leicester Tigers Head Coach Dan McKellar has named his side for Friday night’s trip to Bristol for the opening game of the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership season.
The blockbusting fixture will see Tigers taking on the Bears at Ashton Gate Stadium and McKellar has named a strong matchday squad despite the club’s Argentinian, English, South African and Welsh internationals still to return from the Rugby World Cup.
Six players are named for potential Premiership debuts for the club, including summer recruits Josh Bassett and Ollie Hassell-Collins who start on the wings with Mike Brown the veteran presence at fullback.
Dan Kelly and Guy Porter form a familiar centre pairing and Joe Powell, another league debutant for Leicester, partners Charlie Atkinson as the halfbacks.
In the pack, Francois van Wyk, Charlie Clare and Joe Heyes form the front row with Cameron Henderson and Harry Wells the locks.
Hanro Liebenberg will lead the team from blindside flanker with Olly Cracknell at openside and Matt Rogerson, on Premiership debut for Leicester, at No.8 in the back row.
Nic Dolly, James Whitcombe and Will Hurd will be the finishing front row, with Mike Williams and Kyle Hatherell covering lock and backrow.
Tom Whiteley, Jamie Shillcock and Phil Cokanasiga complete Tigers matchday squad as the replacement backs.
Speaking ahead of the league opener, Leicester Tigers Head Coach Dan McKellar said: “It’s an exciting week for the group and we’re well prepared for the challenge against Bristol on Friday night.”
“We’ve worked really hard for 15 weeks to put ourselves in the right place on and off the field with our game and our connection and now it’s about performing against a really good side on Friday night.
“There’s plenty of quality in the team that will represent us, who have earned their opportunity this week, and are intent on delivering a performance we can all be proud of.”
STARTING XV
15 Mike Brown [9]
14 Josh Bassett [2]
13 Guy Porter [63]
12 Dan Kelly [59]
11 Ollie Hassell-Collins [3]
10 Charlie Atkinson [20]
9 Joe Powell [3]
1 Francois Van Wyk [34]
2 Charlie Clare [80]
3 Joe Heyes [125]
4 Cameron Henderson [39]
5 Harry Wells [178]
6 Hanro Liebenberg (c) [87]
7 Olly Cracknell [26]
8 Matt Rogerson [2]
REPLACEMENTS
16 Nic Dolly [27]
17 James Whitcombe [39]
18 Will Hurd [27]
19 Mike Williams [83]
20 Kyle Hatherell [4]
21 Tom Whiteley [7]
22 Jamie Shillcock [4]
23 Phil Cokanasiga [9]
