There is no point having development and not winning and the balance of that is really difficult and key Richard Cockerill

Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill says the club's demanding work ethic and meticulous preparation is behind their fine form.

Tigers sit top of the Premiership and are in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals despite having to cope with a host of injuries and international call-ups.

"It just doesn't happen," Cockerill told BBC Radio Leicester.

"The graft behind the scenes and the work the players put in is enormous and you get rewarded for that."

Cockerill added: "I'm not a particular risk-taker. I don't chuck lads in when I don't think it is right or necessary. We rotate and bring guys in and out but my job is to win games and develop.

"There is no point having development and not winning and the balance of that is really difficult and is key and we've done it really well over the last two or three years.

"The infrastructure here is really good and everybody is working hands to the pump to get people fit, to get everybody up to speed and organised and playing really well and, by and large, it has worked pretty well."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version