Leicester Tigers side to play DHL Stormers

Leicester Tigers have named their side for their Investec Champions Cup opener against the DHL Stormers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road at 3:15pm on Sunday.

Seven Tigers players will play their first game for the club in the historic competition, including replacement hooker and Academy product, Archie Vanes.

Tigers head coach, Dan McKellar has made three changes to the starting side that defeated Newcastle 47-3 last time out, with Josh Bassett, Solomone Kata and Cameron Henderson rotating into the run-on side.

Leicester Tigers head coach, Dan McKellar said: “Finishing that first block of league games the way we did was really pleasing.”

“The Investec Champions Cup is a competition, personally, I’ve been excited to be a part of since I joined the club. These are the games players and coaches want to be part of and we know there’ll be a big atmosphere at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Sunday.”

STARTING XV

15 Freddie Steward [75]

14 Josh Bassett [9]

13 Matt Scott [69]

12 Solomone Kata [5]

11 Ollie Hassell-Collins [10]

10 Handré Pollard [19]

9 Ben Youngs [306]

1 Francois Van Wyk [40]

2 Julián Montoya (c) [46]

3 Dan Cole [314]

4 Ollie Chessum [47]

5 Cameron Henderson [46]

6 Hanro Liebenberg [95]

7 Tommy Reffell [105]

8 Jasper Wiese [65]

REPLACEMENTS

16 Archie Vanes [10]

17 James Cronin [21]

18 Joe Heyes [130]

19 Harry Wells [183]

20 Kyle Hatherell [6]

21 Tom Whiteley [15]

22 Jamie Shillcock [11]

23 Dan Kelly [66]