Head coach Richard Cockerill
Captain Geordan Murphy
Arrivals Anthony Allen (Gloucester), Geoff Parling (Newcastle Falcons), Jeremy Staunton (London Wasps), Billy Twelvetrees (Bedford)
Departures Martin Corry, Julien Dupuy, Benjamin Kayser, Seru Rabeni, Marco Wentzel
Last season Premiership: winners. Heineken Cup: finalists. Overcame the mid-season coaching crisis of Heyneke Meyer returning to South Africa and Cockerill assuming command. Outstanding defence enhanced by greater attacking strength, with Dan Hipkiss returning to form and Sam Vesty emerging as an inventive, goalkicking fly half.
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Prospects Likely to be challenging again on all fronts and slimmed-down squad sure to be imbued with fighting characteristics of the now-retired Corry. Important that Ben Youngs develops at scrum half, with Dupuy having returned to France, and that Richard Blaze has an injury-free season in which to justify his glowing reputation at lock. If Aaron Mauger stays clear of injury, he could excel in the player-coach role that Pat Howard enjoyed.
Two to watch Parling: Part of a Newcastle Falcons pack that suddenly started to take opponents apart last season with a mobile, ball-carrying game. Will have to do the nitty-gritty in the second row, too, for Leicester. Twelvetrees: Great things are expected of the 20-year-old centre who has developed his game with Bedford and now returns to Welford Road.
Likely finish Potential champions again