Potentially exciting times ahead for Tigers supporters

AS the Leicester Tigers head coach Richard Wigglesworth so aptly put it: “This club is not about losing semi-finals!”

Make no mistake, Tigers – the whole organisation and their fans – see themselves as big in every sense of the word.

Years of unalloyed success at the beginning of the professional era, coupled with years as one of the “biggest” clubs during the amateur days, means that a season without winning something is not going to be seen as a success.

However, given what has happened during the 2022-23 season, it has been cheering to see fans on social media accepting that this campaign can be looked back on with no little pride.

The heart of the club’s coaching staff was ripped out mid-season, and even the ones who stayed were set to leave at season’s end, and it affected the players with a noticeable dip in form that probably cost a home play-off semi-final (and then who knows what would have happened).

But very few teams would have managed to get it back together and put together a run that culminated in a knockout spot.

Even with arguably the world’s best fly-half missing at the last minute, Tigers put together an agonisingly close finish to just fail to return to Twickenham.

We’ve seen plenty of highlights – Chris

Ashton hitting 100 Premiership tries, the Dad’s Army of a backline opening up Leicester’s attack under Richard Wigglesworth’s guidance and

Jasper Wiese being voted as the player’s player of the season. Freddie Steward established as one of the best full-backs in the world and the England player of the season.

Jack van Poortvliet becoming established as an international scrum-half (and England’s first choice) in spite of the efforts of the media and their love for the “headless chicken” brand of number 9!

Ollie Chessum, sadly now suffering from injury, but an established international, and his brother captaining the England U20s and getting starts in the senior team.

George Martin improving beyond recognition (albeit possibly to Leicester’s detriment during the forthcoming World Cup) along with Cameron Henderson, who is equally likely to feature for Scotland.

Along with the numerous young players coming through, these are potentially exciting times ahead.

A new coach, particularly a Southern Hemisphere one, always brings a risky time, but if Dan McKellar, left, can build rather than hit the restart button, then Leicester are in a good place to move forward and challenge wealthy Saracens and other clubs.