Leicester are in contention for yet another league title and with their excellent timing of coming into form it would be hard to argue against them having a chance of going all the way once again. Whatever this season ends up holding for the Tigers one thing is for sure. Their ever present hooker, George Chuter is determined that he will be able to retain his place in the Tigers’ side next season.
Chuter has been at the Tigers since 2001, in which time he has collected several honours with the Tigers and picked up an impressive collection of England caps along the way. Should Chuter’s career end today he would be remembered as a successful player with a string of impressive stories to tell. But at the ripe old age of 35 he is determined that he will be able to play on for at least one more year.
“I’m feeling pretty good at the moment, I’m happy where I am in terms of fitness and physical well-being and I’m still enjoying it.”
He went on to explain how important the enjoyment factor is to his decision on when to hang up his boots. A player of Chuter’s stature will be determined to remain playing as long as he can remain competitive and he will no doubt not enjoy playing on if he cannot be able to play at the highest possible level.
He will need to remain at the top of his game in order to maintain his place in the Leicester starting 15. He will face competition from Tom Youngs, Rob Hawkins and Jimmy Stevens each trying themselves to build careers as impressive as Chuter’s.
Chuter is full of praise for his coach at Leicester, Richard Cockerill and has tipped him as a possible future England coach. “I’m not sure if he would take the job if it came along but, if you are looking around for candidates in the future, he’s got to be on the list.”
George Chuter, the hooker for the Leicester Tigers is looking forward to helping fellow hooker Tom Youngs develop his play with an eye on the future but insists that he is in no hurry to give up his number 2 jersey for the record 9 time champions of the Aviva Premiership. Tom Young, who is the elder brother of England international scrum half is having the best season of his career since he molded his play to suit the role of a hooker from centre and is knocking on the doors of first team action for the Tigers.
The 25 year old has taken his appearance tally for the season in double figures for the first time in his career ever since he made his debut in the professional circuit almost 6 years back now. Over the years, the fans of the Leicester Tigers had grown to seeing cameos from the player but according to Chuter, the days of Youngs playing just a few minutes for the Tigers are coming to an end and he will be a starter for the team for at least the next decade.
According to Chuter, the back injury that Youngs sustained might have halted his progress a bit but he has made a brilliant come back and whenever he has been called on by the manager to deliver, he has done that and it just a matter of time that he becomes the leading hooker in Tigers side.
Chuter also added that Tom Youngs is extremely physical and loves to get involved in things and it is this kind of attitude and passion that appeals immensely to the fans of the Leicester Tigers who were singing his name in the terraces in the match against Wasps Rugby team and Chuter believes that in a couple of years, that will be a regular sight.
Leicester’s Scott Hamilton insists that when the Tigers take on Gloucester their opponents will not be the only ones aiming to play attractive rugby.
The clash sees fourth take on fifth and sees potentially two of the most watchable sides in the league meet. Gloucester have developed a reputation this season for playing ‘nice rugby’ and being prepared to run the ball wherever possible. But it is Leicester who have picked up more try scoring bonus points than anyone in the league so far this season. The Tigers are also the side to have scored the most tries in the league.
Gloucester go into the game on the back of impressive victories over Harlequins and Northampton whilst Leicester are coming off a 6 try annihilation of Newcastle last weekend.
Hamilton is sure this weekend’s clash will be a good game, he highlights Gloucester’s dominance in dry weather and shows that the Tigers know the strengths of their opponents. When the two sides met last year it was one of the best games in the Premiership’s history. 10 tries were scored in total and the sides drew 41-41.
Both sides are on good form, and Leicester are in some good try scoring form. This week’s game may not be quite the spectacle of last year but Hamilton is confident of a good game. “I am not sure it will be 10 tries like there were in last year’s 41-41 draw but it should be a good game in front of a big crowd”. Whatever crowd does turn up there is every chance they will be entertained, between them Leicester and Gloucester have scored 75 tries this season.
With the table so tight this fourth against fifth clash could prove crucial in the race for the play offs. Just 15 points separate third and tenth and just 6 separate third and seventh. Defeat could see either side lose places and victory could see them climb the table. Whatever the result, whatever the weather, this game will be intriguing and hopefully as entertaining as it seems set to be.
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May 10, 2012 11:05 am | 
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