Richard Cockerill ignites the rivalry – Rugby News Update
Richard Cockerill, the 41-year-old Leicester Tigers coach and former England hooker, has started the war of words against their rivals, the London Irish, ahead of the new season of the Aviva Premiership.
Leicester Tigers are a successful team in the Aviva Premiership, having reached the final for the eighth time in as many years, but they lost to the Harlequins, who ended the season top of the league.
Cockerill is also happy with the fact that Dan Bowden, the 26-year-old London Irish fly-half has made the switch to the Tigers, saying that he will have to adjust to the lifestyle that the perennial finalists offer.
"Dan Bowden has been doing some rehab work for us and it has been a shock to the system for him," Cockerill told the
Leicester Mercury. "He has to turn up in the right kit and be in the right place at the right time. For some clubs, that is not the norm…”
The other player that has made the switch is Adam Thompstone, who has also moved from the Madejski Stadium to Welford Road.
Cockerill further added, "Attention to detail is important and there are things like time-keeping, dress code or tidying up after yourself that are equally as important to the way we work. When you add them all together, they are things that any good organisation
is built on.”
Tigers are one of the most successful rugby clubs in the country, and they take pride in the way they do things, whether it is cleaning your plates, or opening doors for the members of the club, every little detail is important. The two new recruits from
the Exiles will have to adapt to life at Welford Road.
Cockerill himself is a former England international, and sets out high standards. He made his debut against Argentina at Buenos Aires, on May 31, 1997, and went onto play 27 matches for his country, starting 22 and coming on as a substitute a further 5 times.
He played his last international game against Fiji at Twickenham, on October 20, 1999.
He was given the head coach role with the Tigers on April 17, 2009, and in his first year in charge he led the team to the Premiership title by victory over the London Irish.
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