Premiership
Team News | Tigers side to face Falcons
Richard Wigglesworth has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad to play Newcastle Falcons in Round 15 of the 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership.
The Head Coach has made a handful of changes to his starting side from last weekend’s defeat away to Sale Sharks.
Harry Simmons will make his first start of the league campaign in a back-three alongside Harry Potter and Freddie Steward.
In the Leicester midfield, Matt Scott is included alongside Dan Kelly.
Ben Youngs, one of two vice-captains for the fixture against Falcons alongside Dan Cole, partners Charlie Atkinson as the starting half-backs.
Cole and Charlie Clare retain their place in the front-row, with James Cronin returning from injury to make up the trio.
Calum Green, who made his 100th Tigers appearance off the bench in Round 14, joins Harry Wells in the second-row, which sees Ollie Chessum shift to the back-row with Tommy Reffell and captain Hanro Liebenberg.
Nephi Leatigaga, Joe Heyes, Sean Jansen and Jack van Poortvliet are retained in the matchday squad from last weekend’s match, joined by new faces on the bench in Joe Taufete’e, Cameron Henderson, Emeka Ilione and Jimmy Gopperth.
If used, Ilione will make his Premiership debut.
STARTING XV
15 Freddie Steward [64]
14 Harry Potter [53]
13 Matt Scott [54]
12 Dan Kelly [48]
11 Harry Simmons [26]
10 Charlie Atkinson [7]
9 Ben Youngs (vc) [291]
1 James Cronin [8]
2 Charlie Clare [65]
3 Dan Cole (vc) [302]
4 Harry Wells [168]
5 Calum Green [100]
6 Ollie Chessum [40]
7 Tommy Reffell [88]
8 Hanro Liebenberg (c) [72]
REPLACEMENTS
16 Joe Taufete’e [3]
17 Nephi Leatigaga [76]
18 Joe Heyes [111]
19 Cameron Henderson [24]
20 Emeka Ilione [6] *
21 Sean Jansen [12]
22 Jack van Poortvliet [57]
23 Jimmy Gopperth [6]
* Premiership debut
Content & Images from – Leicester Tigers Rugby
Sale Sharks have agreed a deal to sign Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu from French Top14 side Toulon.
The explosive centre, who starred for his country during the recent World Cup, has signed a one-year contract with an option for a further year.
He will join up with Alex Sanderson’s Sharks squad ahead of the start of the 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership season.
Waisea, 33, said: “I’ve watched the Premiership for a long time and it’s always been in the back of my mind that I would love to play there one day and experience rugby in England.
“Now that opportunity has arrived and I’m really, really happy and grateful. I’m so excited to get over there and join the boys and see how I can contribute to the team.
“I have spoken to Telusa Veainu and he only has positive things to say about the club and about Manchester.
“I’m looking forward to playing with some of the guys I’ve played against, like Tom Curry and George Ford. But I also know there are a lot of really talented young players in the Sale Sharks squad and I’m excited to share my experience and help them develop as much as I can.
“I told Alex that it’s what I’ve been doing for the last few years of my career and it’s something I’m passionate about.”
Nayacalevu, who stands at 6’4” and weighs in at 16st 7lb, spent ten years at Top14 side Stade Français before making the switch to Toulon in 2022.
He has won 34 caps for Fiji, slotting in at both centre and on the wing, and captained his country at last year’s World Cup, where the Pacific Islanders made the quarter-finals, losing 30-24 to England in Marseille.
He also famously scored for Fiji in their memorable pre-World Cup win against England at Twickenham.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Phil Brantingham to join Saracens
Prop-forward Phil Brantingham will leave Newcastle Falcons in the summer to join Saracens.
The 22-year-old has played 25 games for his home town club, and leaves with the thanks and best wishes of everyone at the Falcons.
Chairman of rugby Matt Thompson said: “Phil has done well for us and we made him a good offer to stay here.
“We respect his decision and wish him all the best for his move in the summer, but between now and then he will be fully committed to finishing the season strongly for Newcastle Falcons.”
Source – Newcastle Falcons Rugby
Sale Sharks can confirm that forward Cobus Wiese will leave the club at the end of the season to return to South Africa.
The 26-year-old lock has played almost 80 games for the club and scored five tries since joining from the DHL Stormers ahead of the 2020/21 season.
He played a key role last year as Sale reached the Premiership final, and this season he has featured a further 13 times for Alex Sanderson’s side.
Alex said: “Cobus will be missed by all of us on so many levels. He’s the most polite and courteous of people off the field, but the most wildly excitable man on the field, and on a night out.
“To say Cobus wears his heart on his sleeve is to do him a disservice with regards to his emotional commitment for which his body has paid the price on occasion.
“He leads by example and has earnt the respect and adoration of the group both on a professional and a personal level. We wish him every success and happiness with his move back home.”
Everyone at Sale Sharks would like to thank Cobus for his contribution to the club and the team during his time here and we wish him all the very best for the future.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
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