Leicester

And no Austin Healey?

Hard to believe, but it looks like it. Afternoons and evenings at Welford Road will be quieter for the retirement of “the Lip” but also less interesting. The game is poorer for his going.

Any Chinese whispers?

After their fact-finding trip to China in June, Leicester hosted the China sevens squad last month, but there are not likely to be any inscrutable transfers in the near future.

Summer sensations?

Martin Castrogiovanni, the Italy prop, should force his way in and much will be expected of Jordan Crane, long described as the next Lawrence Dallaglio.

Where will they finish?

Leicester will do well to reach the Premiership final, where they have lost in the past two seasons — as well as losing the final of the Middlesex Sevens at Twickenham last month. Nasty habit.

TRANSFERS

IN: Marcos Ayerza (Cardinal Newman, Argentina), Paul Burke (Munster), Martin Castrogiovanni (Calvisano), Jordan Crane (Leeds Tykes), Gavin Hickie (Worcester), Frank Murphy (Munster)

OUT: Ross Broadfoot (Bedford), Alex Dodge (Nottingham), Austin Healey (retired), Will Johnson (Coventry), Daniel Montagu (Nottingham), Darren Morris (Worcester), John Rawson (released), Will Skinner (Harlequins), Ephraim Taukafa (rel), Anitelia Tuilagi (on loan to Leeds Tykes), Brent Wilson (Newcastle Falcons), Alex Wright (rel).

FANS’ GUIDE

HAVE THE TIGERS EXPANDED THEIR LAIR?

Plans are afoot to extend the Welford Road site over the next few years and the club have purchased the surrounding land. The Walkers Stadium down the road, home of the city’s football team, has been used for bigger Heineken Cup games.

SO HOW HARD IS IT TO GET A TICKET AT WELFORD ROAD?

Very. Virtually every game is sold out, so book early to stand any chance as only 2,500 places are available for each game. Tickets are already on sale.

THERE MUST BE A LOT OF SEASON TICKET-HOLDERS THEN?

The figure is capped at 13,000 because of Heineken Cup regulations. Many games, in fact, could actually be sold twice over.

DO THEY HAVE ANY FAMOUS VOICES IN THE CROWD?

Lucie Silvas, the singer, lends her dulcet tones to the Welford Road faithful.

SQUAD

BACKS: S Bemand (nationality: Eng), P Burke (Ire), M Cornwell (Eng), H Ellis (Eng), A Goode (Eng), D Gibson (NZ), D Hipkiss (Eng), I Humphreys (Ire), L Lloyd (Eng), F Murphy (Ire), G Murphy (Ire), J Murphy (Ire), S Rabeni (Fiji), M Smith (Eng), O Smith (Eng), A Tuilagi (Sam), T Varndell (Eng), S Vesty (Eng).

FORWARDS: L Abraham (Eng), M Ayerza (Arg), J Buckland (Eng), M Castrogiovanni (Arg), G Chuter (Eng), M Corry (Eng), J Crane (Eng), T Croft (Eng), L Cullen (Ire), B Deacon (Eng), L Deacon (Eng), J Hamilton (Eng), G Hickie (Ire), M Holford (Eng), S Jennings (Ire), B Kay (Eng), L Moody (Eng), A Moreno (Arg), I Nimmo (Scot), G Rowntree (Eng), H Tuilagi (Sam), J White (Eng), D Young (Scot*).

*Irish-born

ONE TO WATCH

JORDAN CRANE

Made an impact in the Leeds back row and ready to expand in better company

FIXTURES

September

3 Sale Sharks (h)

9 Bath (a)

16 Gloucester (h)

23 Harlequins (a)

30 NG Dragons (h)

October

7 Worcester (a)

14 Northampton (a)

22 Munster (h)

29 Cardiff Blues (a)

November

4 Worcester (h)

12 Saracens (a)

18 London Irish (h)

26 London Wasps (a)

December

2 Northampton (a)

8 Bourgoin (a)

16 Bourgoin (h)

22 Bristol (h)

26 London Irish (a)

January

1 Saracens (h)

7 Newcastle Falcons (a)

12/13/14 Cardiff Blues (h)

19/20/21 Munster (a)

27 Newcastle Falcons (h)

February

17 Worcester (a)

24 Northampton (h)

March

3 Harlequins (h)

10 Gloucester (a)

17 Bath (h)

April

6 Sale Sharks (a)

15 Bristol (a)

28 London Wasps (h)

KEY

Premiership

EDF Anglo-Welsh Cup

Heineken Cup