i Never Knew... - Leicester Tigers

ercrugby.com takes a closer look at the double Heineken Cup winners, Leicester Tigers...

THE CLUB

Leicester Tigers were formed in 1880 and are named after the Royal Leicestershire Regiment - also known as 'The Tigers.'

Leicester Tigers used to play with letters on their shirts. They switched to numbers after the 1998 season.

Their website, www.leicestertigers.com was the 'Premier Rugby Website of the Year 2002. In December 2002 it had 27,000 unique users from North America alone.

The club shop turned over upwards of one million pounds in 2001/2.

The best selling items in the club shop are cuddly Tigers mascots. "Welford" and his nephew "JT" sell in their thousands

There are 10 different bars and restaurants around the ground including a curry house imaginatively called "The Curry House."

THE FANS

The average attendance at Welford Road is 16,500.

Leicester Tigers have the most season ticket holders - 12,600 - of any club in Europe.

Their fans favourite chant is "Tigers - Tigers - Tigers."

Leicester have 3 celebrity fans, seventies crooner Englebert Humperdinck. Former US president Bill Clinton, he became a fan during his time at Oxford University, and antipodean artist and TV presenter Rolf Harris.

You're never too old to be a Tigers fan! 99 year old Harry Roper saw his first game when Leicester beat Saracens 23-18 on January 4. He is planning to come back for 100^th birthday with his grandchildren.

HONOURS

Leicester Tigers have won the English Championship six times in the professional era, 1988, '95, '99, 2000, '01, '02.

They held the English cup aloft in 1979, '80, '81, '93, '97.

Leicester were the first team to successfully defend the Heineken Cup, winning in 2001 and '02.

They hold the club record in the professional era for the longest unbeaten home streak - 57 games.

PLAYERS

Neil Back holds the record for the most tries by any Englishman in the Heineken Cup with 15.

Former New Zealand flanker Josh Kronfeld is an expert harmonica player, he also owns 19 surfboards.

Darren Garforth is a keen gardener.

Martin Johnson is known locally as Mr Trivia. He once was asked to name all the gold medallists from the Barcelona Olympics during a press conference - and managed it. He has appeared on Channel 4 as a summariser on their American football show.

Former players include England manager Clive Woodward, and club chief executive Peter Wheeler.

Director of Rugby Dean Richards is the World's most capped No. 8 with 48 appearances plus six for the Lions.

Adam Balding missed the epic Heineken Cup semi-final victory against Llanelli in 2002 due to an injury he sustained whilst walking his dog.

The biggest eater in the Leicester squad is Peter Short, who reportedly eats 35% more than any other player. His 'motto for life' is "You don't make friends with salad." Peter is 6'5" and 19 stone.

Richard Cockerill famously vomited in the changing room toilets before nearly every home game - the cleaners were "very pleased" when he transferred to Montferrand.

Useful links:

www.leicestertigers.com

http://www.leics.gov.uk

http://www.leicesterontheweb.com/