Tigers team named for champions Cup opener in Bordeaux
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Leicester Tigers have named their side for Sunday’s Investec Champions Cup clash against Bordeaux-Begles at Stade Chaban-Delmas, live on the home of EPCR, Premier Sports.
French lock Côme Joussain makes his first start for the club, partnering Harry Wells in the second row.
Nicky Smith, Tommy Reffell, Dan Cole, George Martin and Handré Pollard are rested after the Autumn Nations Series.
Joussain, Izaia Perese, Jed Holloway and Joseph Woodward will also make their European debut for the club.
Leicester Tigers head coach, Michael Cheika said: “This competition brings great occasions, great days and we’re excited to take the challenge on this week.”
STARTING XV
15 Freddie Steward [94]
14 Josh Bassett
13 Izaia Perese [6]
12 Solomone Kata [24]
11 Ollie Hassell-Collins [30]
10 Jamie Shillcock [33]
9 Jack van Poortvliet (C) [79]
1 James Cronin [40]
2 Charlie Clare [102]
3 Joe Heyes [147]
4 Harry Wells [205]
5 Côme Joussain [8]
6 Hanro Liebenberg [114]
7 Emeka Ilione [26]
8 Olly Cracknell [49]
REPLACEMENTS
16 Finn Theobald-Thomas [12]
17 James Whitcombe [54]
18 Will Hurd [43]
19 Jed Holloway [1]
20 Kyle Hatherell [25]
21 Tom Whiteley [34]
22 Joseph Woodward [14]
23 Mike Brown [29]
Media Notes
Leicester Tigers have won four of their six away games this season. Tigers most recent victory in the EPCR Challenge Cup was 27-24 at Stade Francais in round two last year - this is their only away win in the tournament since January 2023.
The Tigers 12-45 defeat at La Rochelle last year snapped a run of six straight wins against French clubs. Leicester have won on five of their last six visits to France.
The two clubs only previous meeting was also at Chaban-Delmas in December 2021, where Leicester won 16-13.
