No pain, no gain: Agony of Heineken Cup exit will fire us up, says Leicester boss Richard Cockerill
Leicester boss calls on his side to use the disappointment of European Cup exit to spur them on to Aviva Premiership success
Looking to bounce back: Leicester Tigers boss Richard Cockerill
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Leicester boss Richard Cockerill has urged his side to use the hurt of their European exit to spur them on to a ninth straight Premiership final.
Cockerill’s Tigers were booted out of the Heineken Cup by Jonny Wilkinson’s Toulon on Sunday but are pushing for a home Premiership play-off semi-final.
They are second, seven points clear of Harlequins, in the table and start their final push by entertaining Wasps on Sunday.
Cockerill said: “We desperately want a home semi-final, so it’s time now to shelve all Heineken Cup thoughts and use the hurt and frustrations from this defeat to build on and take into the Wasps game.
“I’ve told the players we have to dust ourselves down, reward our tremendous supporters who lit up Toulon, and get a home play-off semi-final.
“We left France having played well with our heads held high. Now we have to move on to the Premiership, get to a ninth consecutive Twickenham final and try and win it.”
Sale chief Steve Diamond has confirmed number 8 Andy Powell will switch codes at the end of the season to take up a three-year contract with Super League leaders Wigan.