‘Having England stars around gives you kick up the backside!’

JOE Heyes and his Leicester Tigers team-mates have been welcoming back the club’s England international players this week in the build-up to today’s European Challenge Cup clash with Pau at Welford Road.

Heyes is well aware that the return of Dan Cole and Ellis Genge will mean heightened competition for front row places, justs as Ben Youngs, George Ford, Manu Tuilagi and Jonny May will add to the mix among the backs.

But he knows that they are all vital members of the Leicester squad, and the calibre of player who can help turn around a poor start to the season.

“It is always good to have experienced heads around,” said tighthead prop Heyes. “It gives you a kick up the backside knowing they are on a high level and you are supposed to be matching that.

“It adds some confidence to the team which is probably needed now.”

All six of the England contingent have been back at Oval Park this week, reacquainting themselves with the Tigers way of life.

There has been a slight change of tack this week with the Challenge

Cup opening round approaching and Heyes is expecting a forward battle against a French side who have made a solid start to their season and sit third in the Top 14 after five wins from their first nine games.

“Usually the French packs are very large and confrontational,” he said. “We want to bring it to them up front. We are confident as a forward pack that we can dominate the Pau pack and go from there.

“That’s as much as we can do and then try and do the things we have been working on on the training field.”