The Rugby Premiership’s latest season is now well underway and many teams will have genuine title aspirations after making several strong additions over the summer. 

Leicester Tigers are one of the teams that narrowly missed out last season but could make amends following their impressive transfer market movements during pre-season.

The Tigers were third last season with 59 points, Saracens won the Premiership and Sale Sharks finished as runners-up. This season, the trio look set to mount a three-way fight for the title yet again.

The Tigers are slight underdogs

The Tigers are the record winners in the history of the Gallagher Premiership with 11 titles, and they certainly have a genuine chance of extending their record this campaign. The odds for the champion see Leicester amongst the favourites at the finale of the 18 rounds of Premiership league games – but Saracens and Sale unsurprisingly lead the way.

Saracens are odds on to retain their title and secure their seventh Premiership victory in their all-time history, with Sale closely behind. The Tigers are slight underdogs in the title race, but they could well spring a surprise and improve on last year’s standings.

Leicester’s transfer additions

Leicester have many key stars that will be vital when it comes to achieving their ambitious goals this season. Some of their standout stars are fresh additions that were acquired in the transfer market.

The Tigers were busy in the transfer market over the summer and their extensive recruitment included the double addition of Joe Powell and Matt Rogerson from London Irish. Both bring a wealth of experience with them from various international rugby union leagues.

Powell is a scrum-half who has played internationally for Australia. He has also played club rugby in his native before experiencing his first Premiership season in 2022/23. The Aussie was a key defensive player for London Irish and he even managed to record five points in his 17 appearances.

Rogerson was his former team’s captain for several years before their recent entrance into administration. He will provide the Tigers with much more than technical ability, coming equipped with remarkable composure and leadership on the pitch that could help the team put up another sustained title challenge.

The Englishman will be a vocal leader from the back row for Leicester, alongside bringing his proven ability to break up the play and even carry the ball forward himself on occasion. Rogerson is an incredibly versatile player who will help the Tigers massively in each phase of play.

Josh Bassett was also a standout acquisition for Leicester from Harlequin. He is a consistent points scorer who has been a deadly offensive threat for every team he has played for.

He managed 35 points in 16 appearances last season, and in his first five outings for the Tigers, he managed six points suggesting his consistency is set to continue at his new club.

Ultimately, Leicester are a constant in the Rugby Premiership. They are genuine contenders every single year.

In 2023/24 they will again have to attempt to upset the odds to topple the modern giant of Saracens. However, the stunning range of additions they have made in addition to a strong squad that finished in the top three last season, suggests they are well capable of potentially reclaiming the title this year.

Throughout the club’s history, the Tigers have regularly won the English top flight irrespective of whether their squad was necessarily the strongest on paper. Their prestige could well lead them to another historical glory in 2024.