Tigers should perhaps concentrate on the league, but confidence is so low they could do with a morale boost

THERE’S another set of firsts for the Leicester Tigers today - the first time we’ve appeared in the second tier European competition and, on a lighter note, the first time for a set of Georgian officials to appear at Welford Road.

All a result of the worst season in the club’s proud history in the last campaign. In some ways it’s not that big a deal when compared to the fact that relegation was looking a distinct possibility last season, but it’s also an indication of the changing nature of the game and Leicester’s place in it.

Anger is perhaps inappropriate, and no one has a divine right to success, but there is at least huge disappointment at going from the “gold standard” in what constitutes a wellorganised, professional rugby club to where we are now in such a short time.

We start the campaign at home against Pau today (or to give the club its full name, Section Paloise Béarn Pyrénées).

Older fans will remember the titanic struggle away in October 1996 at the bear pit of Stade Municipal du Hameau, where Tigers won 19 – 14 thanks to a breakaway Leon Lloyd try when the home team had spent most of the match under the Leicester posts.

This season Pau are acquitting themselves well so far, lying in fourth place in the Top 14, without any big name stars but with the usual smattering of highly competent New Zealanders in the influential positions.

They have made good use of the World Cup period with teamwork and organisation to have a positive winning record.

The big question will be how both clubs approach not just this game but the competition as a whole.

The French have a largely well-earned reputation for concentrating on their domestic league over Europe, but of course last season Clermont and La Rochelle swept all before them to provide an all-French final, so who knows?

If I were a gambling man I might think that Pau will want to make sure they maintain top flight status at home, but we’ll see.

Meanwhile Leicester may also feel the need to concentrate on the league given the parlous state of the table, even at this early point of the season.

However, confidence is already clearly at such a low ebb that another home win, and preferably a good one, is desperately required.

Whether the Tigers can provide it is the question.