Hawkins has played seven games for Tigers this season

Leicester Tigers hooker Rob Hawkins says the younger players will have learned a great deal from the thumping 46-13 LV= Cup defeat against Ospreys.

Tigers included 12 players aged 20 or under, with Hawkins, 27, one of the few senior men on show.

"It was tough but they fronted up for 80 minutes and never let their heads go down," he told BBC Radio Leicester.

"They can be extremely proud. It's in the bank for them now and it's an experience that they can draw on."

Hawkins added: "It's a pretty hostile place to play but they've been and done it now so they can only learn from here."

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