‘You realise how special it is’: Dan Cole revels in Leicester’s European revival

T he Leicester prop Dan Cole says the club’s failure to qualify for the Champions Cup in recent seasons has made him realise how special the competition is. The Tigers welcome Edinburgh to Welford Road on Friday night in the last 16 of Europe’s biggest knockout tournament, with a quarter-final against Leinster or Ulster the prize for the victors.

Leicester have been accustomed to playing in the top-tier European competition, but entered the Challenge Cup in 2019-20 and 2020-21, losing to Montpellier in the Twickenham final in the latter campaign. Leinster eliminated Leicester at the quarter-final stage last season, but qualification for this season’s Champions Cup was emphatically secured by winning the Premiership title last May.

Having recently reached 100 England caps, the 35-year-old Cole is one of the linchpins of a squad that has a chance of emulating Leicester’s legendary side, led by Martin Johnson, that claimed the Heineken Cup in 2001 and 2002.

“It means a lot,” Cole said. “The fact we didn’t qualify for a couple of years … Leicester had qualified for so many years, and been competitive and successful. To then say: ‘You don’t qualify.’ You realise how special the competition is.

Champions Cup

Leicester v Edinburgh Fri 8pmSharks v Munster Sat 12.30pmStormers v Harlequins Sat 3pmLeinster v Ulster Sat 5.30pmLa Rochelle v Gloucester Sat 5.30pmExeter v Montpellier Sun 12.30pmToulouse v Bulls Sun 3pmSaracens v Ospreys Sun 3pm

Challenge Cup

Bristol v Clermont Fri 8pmScarlets v Brive Fri 8pmToulon v Cheetahs Sat 12.30pmStade Français v Lyon Sat 3pmBenetton v Connacht Sat 3pmGlasgow v Dragons Sat 5.30pmLions v Racing 92 Sat 5.30pmCardiff v Sale Sat 8pm

All ties over a single leg; times BST.

“Bringing a big