MARCELO LOFFREDA Born in Buenos Aires on 17 May 1959, Marcelo Loffreda was the Leicester head coach in 2007-08

IIHIH*: GALLAGHER PREM 2026 Sale Sharks 33 Tigers 47 (Chessum 1t, Blamire 1t, Moro 1t, Heyes 1t, Wand 1t, Hassell-Collins 1t, Van der Flier 1t, O’Connor 1c, Bailey 5c) CorpAcq Stadium, 17 May With two fixtures remaining Leicester qualify for the play-offs. (*If it’s Happened it’s History)

AADEL KARDOONI Born on 17 May 1968, Aadel Kardooni was a Leicester player for nine years, making 222 appearances that included league and cup triumphs.

HARRY ALISTAIR ELLIS Born on 17 May 1982, Harry Ellis made 173 appearances for Leicester, He won Premiership, European and international honours over a senior career that ran close to a decade.

TIGERS v SALE First Game: 22 Nov 1890 (h) won 3-1 Most Recent: 25 Oct 2025 (h) won 36-35 Overall: P114 W73 D5 L36 League: P65 W37 D4 L24 Domestic Cups: P13 W10 D0 L3 Europe: None

OTD: AVIVA PREMIERSHIP 2014 Northampton Saints 21 Tigers 20 (Tuilagi 1t, B Youngs 1t, Flood 2c 1p, Williams 1p) Semi-final Franklin’s Gardens, 16 May As feisty as ever, a 78th minute Tom Wood try leaves Tigers missing the final for the first time since 2004.

OTD: GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP 2010 Tigers 15 (Flood 5p) Bath 6 Semi-final Welford Road, 16 May The referee is a “disgrace” according to Richard Cockerill. Cockerill gets a written warning from Twickenham, which he would be able to receive in person.

IAN BATES Born on 16 May 1963, Ian Bates was often an unsung member of Leicester XVs. His statistics and medals tell a different story, playing 287 times for the club over 12 years.

OTD: GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP CHAMPIONS 2009 Tigers 10 (Crane 1t, Dupuy 1c 1p) London Irish 9 (Armitage 2p, Hewat 1d) Twickenham, 16 May It’s unfamiliar blue but it’s a second Twickenham Premiership win and an eighth title for the Tigers. But it was tight.

OTD: ALLIED DUNBAR PREMIERSHIP 1999 Tigers 72 (Back 3t, Healey 2t, Joiner 1t, Howard 1t, Lougheed 1t, Corry 1t, Gustard 1t, Murphy 2t 1c, Stimpson 5c) West Hartlepool 37 Welford Road, 16 May Champions two weeks earlier, tries galore, and hands are on the trophy after a four year gap.

I see Saints have conceded 30+ points again.

OTD: GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP 2021 Tigers 35 (Scott 1t, Genge 2t, T Youngs 1t, Ford 3c 2p, Henry 1p) Harlequins 27 Mattioli Woods Welford Road, 15 May The last men’s game to be held behind closed doors. The good news was that there would be limited crowds from the next round.

OTD: ZURICH WILDCARD 2004 Tigers 43 (van der Westhuyzen 1t 1d, Penalty 1t, Back 1t, Murphy 1t, Ellis 1t, Goode 3c 3p) Harlequins 26 Semi-final, 15 May In the second year of Heineken Cup qualifiers it’s over a single leg. Tigers are off to a more minor but nevertheless important Twickenham final.

CHARLES FREDERICK SLOW England international Charles Slow was born on 15 May 1911. He played 98 times for Leicester.

OTD: GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP 2023 Sale Sharks 21 Tigers 13 (Potter 1t, Gopperth 1c 2p) Semi-final AJ Bell Stadium, 14 May A repeat final against Saracens is denied, partly hindered by the late withdrawal of an in-form Handré Pollard.

OTD: AVIVA PREMIERSHIP 2011 Tigers 11 (A Tuilagi 1t, Flood 2p) Northampton Saints 3 Semi-final Welford Road, 14 May A punchy local semi-final for local people takes until the 71st minute before anyone scores a try.

OTD: GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP 2006 Leicester Tigers 40 (A Tuilagi 1t, Ellis 1t, Lloyd 2t, Murphy 1t, Goode 3c 3p) London Irish 8 Semi-final Welford Road, 14 May A real confidence boosting win. Unfortunately, the Tigers would fare less well against Sale at Twickenham two weekends later.

OTD: ZURICH WILDCARD 2003 Harlequins 26 Tigers 23 (Murphy 1t, Corry 1t, Stimpson 2c 3p) Semi-final, 1st leg Stoop Memorial Ground, 14 May The Tigers go down in the semi-final for Heineken Cup qualification. Never fear, it’s over two legs and they’ll be a return in Leicester four days later.

JULIAN MARTIN WHITE Born on 14 May 1973, Julian White arrived at Leicester as a well travelled tight-head in New Zealand, Wales, Saracens and Bristol. He would make Welford Road his home for nine seasons.

OTD: ZURICH PREMIERSHIP FINAL 2005 London Wasps 39 (Hoadley 1t, Voyce 1t, van Gisbergen 1t 3c 5p, King 1d) Tigers 14 (Bemand 1t, Goode 3p) Twickenham, 14 May Denied in their first Premiership final, the Tigers would return another eight times in succession. But it’s goodbye to some big names.

OTD: ALLIED DUNBAR PREMIERSHIP CHAMPIONS 2000 Bristol 23 Tigers 30 (Murphy 1t, Moody 1t, Lloyd 1t, Stimpson 3c 3p) Memorial Ground, 14 May Confirmed as league champions for the fourth time, Tigers would lift the trophy at Welford Road the following week.

OTD: MIDDLESEX SEVENS WINNERS 1995 Tigers 38 Ithuba 19 Twickenham, 13 May Tigers win their first and only Middlesex Sevens title, beating South African invitational side Ithuba in the final.

FREDDIE SPENCER BURNS Freddie Burns was born on 13 May 1990. He had two spells with Leicester playing 115 games.

LAST 10 v. SHARKS 25 Oct 25 (h) won 36-35 7 Jun 25 (h) won 21-16 (SF) 9 May 25 (h) won 44-34 1 Dec 24 (a) lost 25-39 10 May 24 (a) lost 22-31 21 Oct 23 (h) lost 17-24 15 Sep 23 (a) won 18-14* 14 May 23 (a) lost 13-21 (SF) 30 Dec 22 (a) lost 5-40 8 Oct 22 (h) lost 16-26 *PREM Cup

OTD: AVIVA PREMIERSHIP 2012 Tigers 24 (A Tuilagi 1t, Mafi 1t, Ford 1c 4p) Saracens 15 Semi-final Welford Road, 12 May It’s the third play-off match in three years between the two sides, and Tigers get some revenge for the 2011 final loss.

JOHN MARTIN WELLS Born on 12 May 1963, a multiple champion as a Leicester player, captain and coach, and newly capped international, it’s John Wells.

OTD GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP CHAMPIONS 2007 Tigers 44 (Tuilagi 2t, F Murphy 1t, Corry 1t, Jennings 1t, Moody 1t, Goode 1t 3c 1p) Gloucester 16 (Lamb 1t, Walker 1c, 3p) Twickenham, 12 May The programme cover is prophetic as Tuilagi, with some Fijian-Irish assistance, runs rampant.

OTD: MIDDLESEX SEVENS 1996 Wigan Warriors 35 Tigers 12 Semi-final Twickenham, 11 May For the first time since the 1895 split, defending champions Leicester took on a side that formed the ‘Northern Rugby Union’. The Warriors ran riot throughout the tournament.

OTD: AVIVA PREMIERSHIP 2013 Tigers 33 (Goneva 1t, Morris 1t, Croft 1t, Tait 1t, Flood 2c 3p) Harlequins 16 Semi-final Welford Road, 11 May The previous year’s winners won’t be going back to HQ, as Tigers get some revenge and book in for a ninth final in a row.

OTD: ALLIED DUNBAR PREMIERSHIP 1998 Tigers 34 (Gustard 1t, Stransky 2t 3c 1p, Healey 1t, Joiner 1t) Bristol 25 Welford Road, 10 May Having drawn or lost their previous three games Tigers return to fourth place, where they would finish the season.

FRANCE TOUR 1985 Leicester’s first tour was in 1896 to South Wales. In 1923 they visited France for the first time losing to Racing Club de France 9-19, where they returned to in 1924

OTD: PILKINGTON CUP WINNERS 1997 Tigers 9 (Stransky 3p) Sale 3 (Marnix 1p) Twickenham, 10 May Returning to Twickenham for a fourth time in five years, Tigers claim their fifth cup victory in their second final of 1997.

IIHIH*: GALLAGHER PREM 2026 Tigers 41 (Martin 1t, Haskell-Collins 1t, Blamire 2t, Radwan 1t, Steward 1t, O’Connor 3c 1p, Bailey 1c) Northampton Saints 17 Mattioli Woods Welford Road, 9 May The home semi-finalists have yet to be decided. (*If it’s Happened it’s History)

Carbing up to not let Saints have our pants down* (*Despite this issue Dean Richards led the Tigers to a 23-9 win over Saints in December 1996)

OTD: AVIVA PREMIERSHIP 2015 Wasps 21 Tigers 26 (Morris 1t, Goneva 1t, Thompstone 1t, Burns 1c 3p) Ricoh Arena, 9 May Orange beats the new to Coventry black as 32,000 see Leicester, seventh in February, climb up to third place after the penultimate regular season fixture.

OTD: GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP 2009 Tigers 24 (Hipkiss 1t, Vesty 1t Moody 1t, Dupuy 3c 1p) Bath 10 Semi-final Walkers Stadium, 9 May Tigers faced Bath in all three competitions over five games in 2008-09, playing twice at the Walkers Stadium and winning both.

DANIEL RICHARD COLE International centurion, four time Premiership title winner and podcast raconteur, Dan Cole was born on 9 May 1987.

TIGERS v NORTHAMPTON The Saints were also formed in 1880 and Leicester first played ‘Northampton’ in their third game during their debut season. It was however a different side to the Saints and it would be 1888 when the Tigers set the agenda with a 4-0 win.

OTD: ZURICH PREMIERSHIP 2004 London Wasps 17 Tigers 48 (Smith 1t, Healey 2t, Goode 2t 6c 2p, Ellis 1t) Causeway Stadium, 8 May A sparkling end to the regular season. Tigers move from sixth to fifth and host Harlequins in a home Wildcard semi-final for European qualification.

OTD: CENTENARY DINNER 1981 The 1980-81 season was packed with Tigers centenary celebrations. It finished with a singalong with Max Boyce at De Montfort Hall.

OTD: GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP 2010 Tigers 23 (A Tuilagi 1t, Ayerza 1t, Stanton 2c 3p) Saracens 32 Welford Road, 8 May Saracens draw first blood, but three weeks later Leicester win the one that counted at Twickenham to take the Premiership title.

OTD: GRAND FOOTBALL CHALLENGE MATCH 1987 Tigers ? Leicester City All Stars ? Welford Road, 7 May It was LFC v LCFC. The scoreline is lost to time.

ANTHONY JOSEPH FRANCIS KEVIN O’REILLY Tony O’Reilly, Irish and Lions rugby legend, and Leicester player, was born on 7 May 1936. A winger and occasional centre, he turned out for the club 17 times between 1958 and 1960.

OTD: HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP 2022 Tigers 14 (Ashton 1t, Dolly 1t, Ford 2c) Leinster 23 Quarter-final Mattioli Woods Welford Road, 7 May 17 points behind after 20 minutes, Leicester manage a more respectable scoreline without threatening to overhaul Leinster.

EDDIE REDMAN Born on 7 May 1869, Eddie Redman was captain of Leicester from 1894-96. His first game was against a Leicestershire XV in September 1893. Redman was a member of the first Leicester cup winning team, the Midland Counties Cup in 1898.

OTD: PILKINGTON CUP FINAL 1994 Bath 21 (Swift 1t, Catt 1t, Callard 1c 3p) Tigers 9 (Harris 3p) Twickenham, 7 May Returning to Twickenham for back-to-back finals, Bath thwart the Tigers once more and claim the double. Leicester are double runners-up, as they would be two years later.

OTD: GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP 2023 Tigers 17 (Montoya 1t, Reffell 1t, Pollard 1c 1p, Gopperth 1c) Harlequins 20 Mattioli Woods Welford Road, 6 May A sell-out crowd can’t help a Leicester side stuck in third place since March. They now face a tough away semi-final at Sale.

LAST 10 v. SAINTS 31 Jan 26 (a) lost 22-40* 21 Nov 25 (h) won 34-22* 11 Oct 25 (a) lost 26-32 21 Mar 25 (a) won 33-0 1 Feb 25 (h) won 54-33* 1 Nov 24 (a) lost 12-31* 12 Oct 24 (h) won 24-8 20 Apr 24 (a) lost 17-40 18 Nov 23 (h) won 26-17 28 Jan 23 (h) lost 18-19 *PREM Cup

OTD: GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP 2006 Tigers 32 (Chuter 2t, Varndell 1t, Tuilagi 1t, Holford 1t, Murphy 1p, Goode 1c, Vesty 1c) Bristol 3 Welford Road, 6 May Austin Healey leads the team out for his last home appearance. Although he plays in the home semi-final the following week.

OTD: AVIVA PREMIERSHIP 2012 Tigers 28 (Allen 1t, Penalty 1t, Agulla 1t, Flood 1p, Twelvetrees 2c 2p) Bath 3 Welford Road, 5 May Tigers clinch second place and a home semi-final. A chance for some play-off revenge against 2011 winners Saracens.