Smith’s up for sevens to develop experience

SUMMER signing Johnny McPhillips is included in the Leicester Tigers squad which will line up at the Premiership Sevens this weekend in Northampton.

Former Ulster fly-half McPhillips is the first of the club’s arrivals to run out in Tigers colours. He will captain a squad that also includes eight academy graduates and is coached by Matt Smith and David Mele.

Henri Lavin and Taylor Gough are entering their second season in the development squad, while Ollie Ashworth, Jonny Law, Joe Browning, Leo Gilliland and Freddie Steward all step up in 2019/20.

Smith, now Tigers academy head coach, sees the tournament at Franklin’s Gardens as a chance for the youngsters to get something of a taste for Premiership rugby.

He said: “It is an opportunity to give guys exposure to playing at a Premiership stadium, in front of a decent crowd and the TV cameras – all of that outside ‘noise’ and distraction they are not used to – and that is another step in terms of their own development as players here.

“It’s a first run-out of the year, a first appearance in our colours for Johnny McPhillips, the first time someone like Joe Browning has been involved in senior rugby and a chance for all of them to make the most of a new opportunity.”

All 12 Premiership clubs are involved over two days, with action from 5.30pm on Friday. The teams return for the knockout stages and finals on Saturday.

1 Henri Lavin, 2 Taylor Gough, 3 Ollie Ashworth, 4 Jonny Law, 5 Will Findlay, 6 Joe Browning, 7 Leo Gilliland, 8 Freddie Steward, 9 Johnny McPhillips (c), 10 Toby Smith, 11 Will Affleck,

12 Levi Roper

Leicester Tigers: