Leicester Tigers Sell Record Season Tickets

Aviva Premiership Rugby Union side the Leicester Tigers might have missed out breaking their own record for being the winners of the title for the most times last year, having fallen at the final hurdle to Harlequins FC, but the fans of the club have reason to believe that they will go all the way this year. And that has translated in The Tigers selling more season tickets for the upcoming 2012/13 season, and has already surpassed the figures for last season with almost 5 weeks to go to kickoff.

The club has sold a staggering 13,150 season tickets, according to the numbers revealed on the website of the club, a figure which is 150 more than they sold last season. Simon Cohen, the Chief Executive Officer of the Leicester Tigers has stated that the level of ticket sales for this season has been absolutely fantastic. According to Cohen, there is a lot of work that is going on at Welford Road at the moment; and the sale of so many season tickets already can be regarded as a fantastic achievement, considering the tough economic conditions globally.

Cohen revealed that the best seats in the stadium in Caterpillar Stand have already been sold out and praised the fans of the club for showing such fantastic support, adding that the board, the management team and the players of the Leicester Tigers are extremely pleased with them for their continued support. Cohen also mentioned that the preparations for the upcoming season are in full flow at the club.

According to the lifelong fan of The Tigers, there is a deafening buzz about the whole place and the players can feel it too and it will only hold them in good stead as they are more motivated to go that extra mile this season.

Tigers Keen to Hold on to O’Connor

Aviva Premiership side the Leicester Tigers are keen to extend the coaching contract that the club currently has with head coach Matt O’Connor that would keep him at Welford Road beyond his current deal. According to Simon Cohen, the Chief Executive of the club, the club has already started its contractual negotiations with their head coach that would see him stay beyond his current deal that expires at the end of the upcoming 2012/13 season.

O’Connor joined The Tigers back in 2008 as the backs coach and has since been promoted to the position of head coach but over the last few months, he has been linked with a move away from the record Premiership champions with many clubs back in his native Australia wanting to take him away from England. But as per the comments of Cohen, the club has already appointed their director of rugby Richard Cockerill with the responsibility of persuading him to sign a new deal with the club and it is being believed that Cockerill has already started a conversation with the 41 year old Australian over a contract extension.

The Leicester Tigers have been the most successful side in the Premiership since its inception and with O’Connor on board, their performances have improved on the field dramatically as they have not failed to reach the playoffs any season after he joined the team and there is every hope that he will put pen to paper to a new contract with the club.

Speaking to BBC Radio on the issue, Cohen added that there is no doubt that Matt O’Connor will be staying with the Leicester Tigers for this season and they are hoping that they are able to keep him for longer than that and with Cockerill signing a new contract, it may just be a matter of time before he does too.

IN CONTENTION

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.”