Ex-Tigers player back in action after nearly 600 days out injured
LAVIN RETURNS TO THE BACK ROW FOR LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS IN FRIENDLY AGAINST HINCKLEY
A FORMER Leicester Tigers player has made his return to action – after nearly 600 days out with a knee injury, writes Bobby Bridge.
Henri Lavin was a promising back row forward in the Tigers Academy when he featured in a midweek Premiership Shield clash against Wasps A in December 2019.
Unfortunately for the youngster, who turned 21 in July, he suffered an ACL rupture in the A match after coming off the bench.
Future internationals Freddie Steward, Joe Heyes and George Martin all started in the 33-31 defeat.
Lavin would not feature in Tigers colours again as his gruelling period of rehabilitation was followed by his release from the club this summer.
He swiftly teamed up with National League Two North side Loughborough Students in a bid to get his rugby career back on track.
And on Saturday, August 14 – 593 days on from the injury that rocked his career – Lavin was named in the Loughborough back row for a friendly clash at local rivals Hinckley.
Hinckley, who play in the equivalent National League Two South and had their director of rugby, and former Leicester Tigers back Scott Hamilton in the starting line-up at the age of 41, were hit by a number of positive Covid-19 tests in the build-up to the game.
But the match still took place with the visitors triumphing 40-7.
Lavin’s former Tigers teammates Martin and Taylor Gough, who both spent time with Loughborough while in the Leicester Tigers Academy, were in attendance at Leicester Road.
Gough suffered a career-ending car accident in June last year that left him paralysed from the chest down.
After the game, Lavin said on Twitter: “A lot of blood, sweat and tears later but great to be back playing after so long out. Class to have so many close friends/family there too.”
Among his well-wishers was current Tigers winger and Fiji international Nemani Nadolo, far left.
“This is amazing, well done mate. Super proud of your hard work and not giving up! The best is yet to come,” Nadolo said on Twitter.
Loughborough Students kick off their National League Two North campaign on Saturday, September 4 with a trip to Blaydon.