Captain Ellis relishing his new responsibilty

WE’VE WORKED HARD, TRYING TO GET

BACK TO THAT TIGERS WAY, SAYS GENGE

We will be better this season and try to eradicate those errors

ELLIS Genge will follow giants of the English game such as Martin Johnson and Dean Richards when he captains Leicester Tigers this season, writes Andrew Baldock, of the PA news agency.

And the 26-year-old England international is relishing the opportunity.

Leicester head coach Steve Borthwick has followed England boss Eddie Jones in handing Genge extra responsibility.

Genge was vice-captain for England’s emphatic victory over Canada at Twickenham this summer, and he now skippers Leicester, with a tough Gallagher Premiership opener awaiting the Tigers against Exeter tomorrow.

“I get a gold-plated number plate,” Genge joked, when asked about the captaincy.

“No, not much changes in day-to-day life. Everyone is treating me the same, which is brilliant, and there are just a few more meetings and conversations with the management and staff.

“There are sayers and doers, and I am probably more the latter in terms of being a bit more of a doer. I lead by actions, as opposed to words.

“I have always been told that I am (a leader), but I never envisaged myself being captain of a club with so much history or vice-captaining England in the summer.

“Nowadays, without trying to sound too cliched, you’ve got 15 leaders on the pitch at all times. “Obviously, you have got some young lads that need a bit more steering than the others, but you have usually got five or six big personalities in a team.

“I think probably a strength of mine is finding that balance between who’s doing what job and who’s best in what role. I am enjoying it.” Leicester showed considerable improvement last season - Borthwick’s

first at the helm - finishing sixth in the Premiership after winning half of their 22 games.

In the previous league campaign, only Saracens - demoted to the Championship because of repeated salary cap breaches - were below them.

And while Leicester remain the most dominant club in Premiership history, claiming eight titles, they have not lifted the trophy since 2013.

Genge added: “We’ve worked hard, trying to get back to that sort of Tigers way, I guess. Not finding our feet, but finding our DNA, and keeping hammering away at that. I am enjoying being a part of it.

“We took Bristol to the last second of the game (last season), we beat Harlequins, we beat Wasps in the last game of the season.

“Every game was probably within seven to 10 points, which is one score or so. There are no medals for second place in this industry.

“If you almost win, it doesn’t count, unfortunately. We will be better this season and try to eradicate those errors.”

Ellis Genge, pictured in action against Wasps