Martin and Watson named to face Bath

September 27, 2024
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Ultimate Rugby

The matchday squad for the first home game of the league season, against Bath Rugby at 3pm on Sunday at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, has been named.

Michael Cheika has included two players for their first starts of the Premiership Rugby season in England duo George Martin and Anthony Watson.

Martin partners Harry Wells in the second row, while Watson faces his former club in a back-three alongside Ollie Hassell-Collins and Freddie Steward.

Jack van Poortvliet will lead the side from scrum-half with the returning Martin as his vice-captain.

Tommy Reffell comes into the starting side after coming off the bench to score the match-winning try in the Round 1 away victory over Exeter Chiefs, which sees Kyle Hatherell included among the replacements for Sunday's game and Olly Cracknell shifting to No. 8 in the back row.

In the only other change to the side from last weekend, Dan Kelly starts at inside centre in place of Solomone Kata and Mike Brown comes onto the bench.

Summer signings Izaia Perese, Nicky Smith and - if used from the bench - Côme Joussain and Ben Volavola will make their first league appearances at Mattioli Woods Welford Road after debuting at Sandy Park in Round 1.

On the battle with Bath, Leicester Tigers Head Coach Michael Cheika said: “It’s great to be home this week. These old rivalries are fantastic for the game; with the tradition and the history, how they're going at the moment, it should make for entertainment."

“I have already got a taste of being the home coach at Mattioli Woods Welford Road but I know from experience, as the opposition, that the noise and atmosphere will be at a different level on Sunday."