For five Leicester Tigers title winners landing back in the country, the 2021/22 season is finally at an end. Just days after Tigers lifted the Gallagher Premiership trophy, Jack van Poortvliet, Freddie Steward, Ollie Chessum, Joe Heyes and Guy Porter boarded a plane bound for Australia for England’s three Test tour down under.
Ellis Genge, who skippered Tigers to glory at Twickenham a month ago, was also among them, but will team up with Bristol Bears after enjoying his summer rest period.
Here, rugby writer Bobby Bridge shares his thoughts on the Leicester contingent who roared England on to a 2-1 series victory in Australia, bouncing back from a first Test loss to win in Brisbane and Sydney to bring home the Ella-Mobbs trophy… Described by Sir Clive Woodward, the former England head coach and Leicester Tigers back, as being the ‘find of the tour’.
And understandably so, the 21-year-old has bounced back from the disappointment of missing out on the Premiership final to become a senior England international - and arguably establish himself as his country’s first-choice scrum-half when the Autumn series arrives.