Tom Croft returns for Leicester Tigers

Tom Croft will run out at Welford Road for the first time in 10 months in tomorrow's Leicester Tigers-London Wasps LV= Cup clash.

Back-rower Croft made his return from a serious neck injury in the Aviva Premiership win at Worcester earlier this month, but this will be his first game at Welford Road.

Vereniki Goneva and Boris Stankovich also both return from injury and are included in the Tigers team. Brett Deacon is named as captain.

Dan Bowden starts at fly-half with Toby Flood and George Ford on international duty, and Matt Cornwell starts his first senior game at Welford Road since his return to the club last summer.

Academy products Tom Price and Harry Wells, both members of the England Under-20s squad, are in line for their club debuts, with Price named in the second row and Wells among the replacements.

Saturday's match will be followed by a National Academy League fixture between Leicester Tigers and Gloucester under-18s at Welford Road. Kick-off is at 5.30pm.

The Welford Road pitch has been covered and protected from frost since last weekend's European fixture against Toulouse.

 

15 Mathew Tait

14 Scott Hamilton

13 Andy Forsyth

12 Matt Cornwell

11 Vereniki Goneva

10 Dan Bowden

9 Sam Harrison

1 Boris Stankovich

2 Rob Hawkins

3 Logovi'i Mulipola

4 Rob Andrew

5 Tom Price

6 Tom Croft

7 Richard Thorpe

8 Brett Deacon (capt)

Replacements

16 George Chuter

17 Jonny Harris

17 Fraser Balmain

19 Harry Wells

20 Michael Noone

21 Micky Young

22 Andy Symons

23 Adam Thompstone