European Champions Cup preview: A long wait for Leicester Tigers finally sees them host Leinster

Mattioli Woods Welford Road welcomes back European Champions cup quarter-final action for the first time since 2016.

Travelling Leinster supporters can expect an electric atmosphere as Tigers welcome back Champions Cup quarter finals to Welford when their first in six years kicks off at 17.30 on Saturday.

When you think of iconic Champions Cup clubs, Leicester Tigers and Leinster are two clubs that spring to mind, especially the historic final between the two at BT Murrayfield in 2009, which saw Leinster claim their first European title.

Since then, the club has been a repeat offender of making it deep into the knockout stages, having won three more titles since they met Saturday’s opponent in that final.

Leicester Tigers haven’t made it to the big dance once since, which shows the difference in European trajectory both sides have witnessed over the last few seasons.

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The Leicester Tigers 2️⃣3️⃣ for Saturday's match at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.#LEIvLEI ? #COYT ? pic.twitter.com/X2PsT63u91

— Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) May 6, 2022

Leinster have won five of their last six quarter-final fixtures in the Heineken Champions Cup, whilst tomorrow will be Tigers first under current boss Steve Borthwick, who’s worked wonders since taking over the top job in 2020

Borthwick’s Tigers have experienced what it feels like to come close to European glory, having lost last year’s Challenge Cup final by a single point to Montpellier, the hurt of that loss in Twickenham will surely have the Tigers even more hungry for some European success.

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Here's your #LeinsterRugby team for tomorrow's #HeinekenChampionsCup quarter-final against @LeicesterTigers ?

? @JamesRyan126 is back!
? Joe Mc makes the bench#LEIvLEI #FromTheGroundUp pic.twitter.com/CayOsveZFW

— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) May 6, 2022

Both sides currently sit at the top of both of their respective leagues, with Leinster sending a second-string squad out to South Africa to play their league fixtures, whilst the bulk of the first team squad prepared for their clash at Welford Road on Saturday.

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