Ellis Genge leads Leicester Tigers against Exeter

September 17, 2021
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Ultimate Rugby

Steve Borthwick has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad for the Gallagher Premiership season-opener against Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.

Ellis Genge will lead the side for the first time in a Premiership fixture at Mattioli Woods Welford Road since being appointed club captain.

The Line Ups 📋

🐯 @LeicesterTigers v @ExeterChiefs 🔶#LEIvEXE #GallagherPrem

— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) September 17, 2021

The 26-year-old is named alongside Nic Dolly – in his first Premiership start – and Dan Cole in the Tigers front row, with Harry Wells and Calum Green paired as the Leicester locks.

Vice-captain Hanro Liebenberg starts at No8, with Tigers Academy graduates George Martin and Tommy Reffell the flankers.

Ben Youngs and George Ford are the starting half-backs, with Dan Kelly and Matt Scott named as the centre pairing in the Leicester midfield.

Nemani Nadolo and Harry Potter are the wings in the Tigers back three with full-back Freddie Steward.

Among the replacements, Borthwick includes a trio of Tigers to make their debut appearances in Tom Cowan-Dickie, Eli Snyman and Francois van Wyk, who are joined by Nephi Leatigaga and Ollie Chessum as the forwards on the bench. Jack van Poortvliet, Freddie Burns and Guy Porter are the replacement backs.

Previewing the season-opener at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Borthwick said: “We enjoyed the chance to be back playing in front of Leicester Tigers supporters during the pre-season and are pleased we have the opportunity to start the new season with them on Saturday.

“We have had a good pre-season and laid some strong foundations for the campaign ahead, with a lot of hard work from each player on and off the pitch.”

Speaking about Saturday’s opponents, the Tigers head coach added: “The Chiefs have been the benchmark side in the league for more than half the past decade, appearing in every Premiership final since 2016.

“It is a squad packed with internationals and a wealth of experience who have also played together for a long time, which will be a good test for our group at this point on our journey against a team of this quality."

STARTING XV

15 Freddie Steward [35]

14 Harry Potter [16]

13 Matt Scott [25]

12 Dan Kelly [20]

11 Nemani Nadolo [16]

10 George Ford [105]

9 Ben Youngs [264]

1 Ellis Genge (c) [89]

2 Nic Dolly [3]

3 Dan Cole [264]

4 Harry Wells [124]