Tigers side for PREM Cup opene

The first Leicester Tigers matchday squad for the 25/26 season has been named, with four players included in the starting side for their club debuts in the PREM Cup clash with Saracens.

A further three players are in line for their first Tigers appearances after being included on the bench for the match at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday afternoon.

Orlando Bailey, Jamie Blamire, Gabriel Hamer-Webb, and James Thompson are the debut quartet named to start against Sarries while Joaquin Moro, Harry Palmber, and Charlie Titcombe are the trio of players in line for their debuts from the bench.

Hanro Liebenberg will captain the team at blindside flanker.

Ale Loman, on loan from Nottingham Rugby, has also been included among the replacements. The Swedish international made his Tigers debut last season.

The matchday squad includes six players - Will Hurd, Tom Manz, Thompson, Adam Radwan, Tom Whiteley, and Finn Theobald-Thomas - who will play for the first time this season after not featuring in last weekend’s Pre-Season win over Nottingham Rugby.

STARTING XV

15 Ollie Hassell-Collins [48]
14 Adam Radwan [11]
13 Izaia Perese [15]
12 Joseph Woodward [33]
11 Gabriel Hamer-Webb *
10 Orlando Bailey *
9 Tom Whiteley[40]
1 Archie van der Flier [4]
2 Jamie Blamire *
3 Will Hurd [50]
4 Tom Manz [14]
5 James Thompson *
6 Hanro Liebenberg (c)
7 Emeka Ilione [48]
8 Olly Cracknell [66]

REPLACEMENTS
16 Finn Theobald-Thomas [17]
17 Tubuna Maka [2]
18 Ale Loman [1] **
19 Harry Palmer *
20 Joaquin Moro *
21 Ollie Allan [3]
22 Charlie Titcombe *
23 Will Wand [11]

* Leicester Tigers debut
** Loan Player