| Player BlogsWe're hoping throughout the coming season to have some Leicester Tiger players, players from other Premiership clubs and Hambo, have their say on how the seasons going, views on improvements to the laws from a players perspective, or just some general chat about life as a pro rugby player. Cockers Sign's a New Contract"Cockers has signed a new contract for the Tigers, he's been made Director of rugby rather than the head coach of Leicester Tigers. I personally think that he's grown up hell of a lot in the last few years as a coach, he is a much better man manager now, he speaks to the players well and comes across much better to the press. In the early days he was perhaps too passionate about the club and he'd be like a player ranting and raving on the sideline. He has now shown by his authority and by the way Leicester Tigers have played, we've got a great formula, and arguably one of the greatest Tigers team ever to play at Welford Road.It would be great to see us do something in Europe this year, we haven't done much in the last few years and it would be great for the team and the club on a whole to be back up there with the Munster's, Toulouse's and Stade Francaises of the world, which I rightly think we should, as far as I'm concerned we are the best team in Europe and should always be in and around the finals. We have a very settled side now and with Geordan Murphy as captain it kinda shows how the club has moved on, we don't just play with a strong forward pack, which we've always had, we play with a very good back line too. If you look at last season's Premiership Final we played with a lot of onus and skill, great off loading out of the tackle with a strong forward presence. I personally still think the scrum has a massive part to play in rugby, Tigers kinda play off that with a strong foundation with the forwards then moving it out to the backs. With the scrum being dominant and moving forward, you can say 95% of the time you'll find the back line will be on the front foot and moving forward and playing a better brand of rugby".
Johno's Elite Player SquadI was actually quite impressed with his selection. There is probably more experience in the Saxon squad than there is in the Elite Players Squad (EPS). I think it's quite a smart move really because there is a lot of guys who can come in from the Saxon squad like Ugo Monye, Tom Rees and Steve Borthwick, who have got experience but haven't, you know for various reasons, made the grade in the later few years. So I think it's great that he's kinda picked an experienced Saxon side so if he does have any injuries within the EPS, then he can always bring players up to step into their shoes. I think it's and exciting team he has picked, a very young side and he'd given a shot, given them a go and with the safety net of more experienced players waiting in the wings if they don't perform. I would love to see Phil Dowson play, have a shot, because I think he is one of the outstanding players of last years Premiership. He offers so much coming off the bench because he can play in all 3 back row positions, he's dynamic and vey good at the breakdown. I think after the Australia game, Johno had a big turning point in his career and the whole squad played well as well. They played to look at performance rather than result and that is a massive thumbs up to Johno. They did make mistakes in the game, and you will make mistakes in a game, but the key is how you bounce back from those mistakes. I hope Johno carries on playing with that philosophy and mentality through his side and we should look on the positive side of English rugby, considering how well the English football team is doing, everyone should get behind the English rugby side and give Johno a bit of breathing space.
He has achieved amazing things in his career, things I could only ever dream of. He played for the British Lions and I don't think people appreciate what it took for him to get fit before that British Lions test. To go away with them and be a tourist with the British Lions, he really pushed himself hard and it's amazing how he came back and played bloody well as well. Then he also achieved England honours as, and if he was playing now he would be one of England's senior players, which is a real shame, Hay Ho, he's moving on to newer pastures now, I'm sure he will find himself a real good job and stay around Leicester and be a local lad and keep in contact with the club".
Harry Ellis Retirement"It was really sad when I found out about the news that Hazza was retiring, he's obviously what makes Tigers a special club, he's one of those real unsung heroes of Leicester Tigers, but also off the pitch he is an absolute legend, great character and the fans love him. Really sad to see him go and retire but I wish him all the best in his new life whatever he decides to do. I just hope he keeps in touch with everybody at the club and comes down and shows his face to all the fans. He has achieved amazing things in his career, things I could only ever dream of. He played for the British Lions and I don't think people appreciate what it took for him to get fit before that British Lions test. To go away with them and be a tourist with the British Lions, he really pushed himself hard and it's amazing how he came back and played bloody well as well. Then he also achieved England honours as, and if he was playing now he would be one of England's senior players, which is a real shame, Hay Ho, he's moving on to newer pastures now, I'm sure he will find himself a real good job and stay around Leicester and be a local lad and keep in contact with the club".
 Hambo - 16/02/10Hi everyone sorry I haven't spoke on the blog for a while I've been really busy with the England v Ireland Legends game and my Six Nations Dinner. I'm really looking forward to both events they promise to be great spectacles. The players that have got their boots out of the closet for last time are some of my rugby heroes. Originally the game was going to have uncontested scrums but when I saw that Darren Garforth and Jason Leonard were going to play we had to have full on no holds bared scrummaging. Once again the rugby community have come together to support me in great numbers. The players in particular have took the game on board and I'm sure that the game will be a great contest, as long as the men in white win!!!
Hambo - 20/10/09The Heineken Cup was again fantastic last weekend, the French sides are for me looking the strongest so far, they as usual are all or nothing one week the best side in the competition the next can be awful! Tigers got the job they needed to do done in Italy securing the bonus point and winning comfortably. The Bath game against Stade Francais was great, Stade are looking really good. Dupuy looked class and won the game with his kicking. Banahan again showed what he can do and I really feel he can do a job for England perhaps as an Impact player off the bench. Leinster bounced back after their opening round loss to win and again will be strong contenders this year. Northern hemisphere rugby as a whoel is getting stronger and I’m really starting to look forward to the Autumn Internationals I think all the home nations will give the touring southern hemisphere sides a good run from their money.  Hambo - 14/10/09What a start to the Heineken Cup! Tigers had a great result on Sunday, the Ospreys had pretty much a whole British Lions backline and an all star international XV on display, whilst the Tigers were done to just 24 fit squad members to select from. I felt we were unlucky to go in at half time behind, a couple of silly mistakes really cost us, as we had played some really attacking and positive rugby. The second half really showed what a strong and resilient squad we have; we gained a 32 all draw but could so easily have won it at the end. We did all this with a flanker Craig Newby at inside centre for the whole of the second half! There were some other great results for the Premiership clubs, Northampton beating Munster in another close and tense game. The Saints have a young side full of guys I used to play with like Foden, Geraghty, Hartley and Lee Dickson and it’s great to see them all doing so well. London Irish just sneaked past reigning champions Leinster in Dublin, and it’s good to see London Irish coming off age they are going to be a really formidable team to play against this season. The Heineken cup looks set to be another classic this year with most teams on their day being able to beat anyone, we had a surprise with Perpignan losing to Treviso 9-8 which no doubt will be a massive boost to the Italian clubs. Looking forward to round two this weekend! Hambo - 07/10/09Last weekend’s game against Worcester Warriors was a strange old game, Leicester started the first half playing quite a conservative game plan using the forwards to dominate possession. However it wasn’t until the second half when they looked to be a bit more positive, I think they deserved to win but it was a pretty close game and we cut it a bit fine for my liking! I must say I was disappointed with Worcester at the end, I felt kicking the ball into touch when they still could have got a result instead of settling for a losing bonus point was very negative. I’d be really upset if Leicester did that but I suppose that’s the game these days. London Irish continue to impress as do Wasps and both sides are playing some good rugby. Saracens much like Tigers are winning ugly to a certain extent and they will be a very tough side to beat this season. Leeds look favourites for the drop as expected, they don’t have the best of squads but no doubt with Backy at the helm will look to improve and pick up points as the season progresses. All the best Hambo - 03/10/09Hi, it’s been a really busy week last Sunday I finished off my RFU level one coaching badge, so it means I’m now officially a coach! It’s only Level one but it gets me on the ladder to becoming a highly qualified rugby coach which is something I’d really like to achieve. I’ve been coaching up at Oakham School for the past couple of years and I did a session with the First XV this week which I really enjoyed. I’d like to do a bit more coaching, I like focusing on the scrum particularly the finer aspects, it might seem strange to some people but I love the scrummage and doing the scrum coaching I find it really rewarding. I also went to interview Nigel Wray part owner of Saracens Rugby Club this week for rugby world magazine, I actually went to his house in Hertfordshire. He is a very interesting character and it was a good interview, he has an amazing collection of sporting memorabilia but you can find out more in the magazine next month. My first interview for the magazine was with Rob Andrew and that edition is available in the shops now. I had a meeting with the guys from the PRA at Oval Park this week. It has been decided by the walk committee that the PRA benevolent fund will be one of the chosen charities for next year’s walk4matt 2010. Therefore with the guys at the PRA fully behind the event it should promise to be an even bigger success. I’m an ambassador for the benevolent fund, and it is a charity that is very close to my heart as it raises money for people in a similar position to myself. They have really supported me since my accident, and I’m now in a position to try and give something back and help other injured rugby players. All the best Hambo - 29/09/09Another great weekend of games in the Premiership, Tigers played down at the Rec and both teams played well in what was a tightly fought out draw. It was a really good game to watch and I think a fair result, Ben Young’s was the star for Tigers coming off the bench and tearing the Bath defence apart to set up Dan Hipkiss for his try. It was good to see the whole Leicester squad contributing, and the bench was used really well. For Bath I thought Matt Banahan played very well, he must be in with a very good shout for making a place in the England side for the coming Autumn Internationals, if not starting then at least coming off the bench I think he would be a terrific impact player. He’s 6’’ 6 which is awesome for a back and he was unstoppable at the weekend and he’s got some good skills as well. I thought the game was a great spectacle and as Stuart Barnes said on the Sky Sports commentary, it has set the season very nicely, that was the first real game of high class and intensity and I’m sure there will be many more games similar in passion and quality as the season unfolds. Hambo - 25/09/09The Guinness Premiership season is now well underway and from the first three rounds it’s clear to see that it’s more competitive than it’s ever been. For me the Teams to look out for this season are obviously Wasps because they are always dangerous and have started really well, Tigers are not showing all their cards at the moment, they have had a bit of a slow start, one of the top teams in the world they always seem to perform when they need to, and grind out wins even if not playing well and that is the case at the minute. I think London Irish will be a top side again this season, I hope Lamby (Ryan Lamb) can perform to his potential, and I also hope that if he does get in the mix with the England squad he takes hi chance. Cipriani is starting to look like the world Class player many believe he is, with the drop goals at the weekend and the way he is running the play. I think Tigers are lacking in this department, Staunton has a good boot but we could do with a bit more flair in the backs and a bit more go forward, we are doing the business up front, though Carl Hayman’s showed his class against us for Newcastle who put in a dogged performance here at Welford Road last weekend. It’s great to be talking about rugby again and not all the controversy that was in the press over the summer months!
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