Leicester Tigers reaffirm commitment to PWR club with 'enhanced strategy'

Leicester Tigers have announced an enhanced strategy for growth and additional commitment to their Premiership Women’s Rugby side.

The club hope that this commitment to their team can herald a “bright future”. After Round 16 of the 2025/26 PWR season, Leicester are at the foot of the league table and are yet to win a game this season.

In what Tigers describe as a “period of transition”, Director of Women’s Rugby, Fraser Goatcher, and head coach, Ross Bundy, have focused on the development of players since their 2025 appointments.

At the end of last season saw a whole host of international stars leave Mattioli Woods Welford Road. Including Women’s Rugby World Cup winners Meg Jones and Amy Cokayne.

To contend with those exits the East Midlanders did recruit a smattering of players with international experience. None that matched the game-changing qualities of those that had departed.

Instead the side brought in a series of players that had lived on the frayed edges of other PWR clubs or the top athletes from women’s club rugby.

With development the club’s main aim, they have seen Eve Slater join the first team squad after she graduated from their Under-23 side.

Leicester resume their PWR campaign with a trip to Harlequins on Saturday 30 May.

Leicester Tigers’ statement: “The plan will see a strengthening of the programme with new and enhanced roles, both on the performance and commercial sides of the business, together with a robust development plan for our playing group.

“Over the past five years, the programme has made great strides in promoting rugby to women and girls within Leicester, Leicestershire, and the surrounding areas. Partnerships with Lichfield RFC, Nottingham University and UXi [Leicester Tigers Women’s Institute] continue to grow and the intention is to evolve those partnerships for the benefit of all parties and provide opportunities at all levels for both player and staff development.

“On the field, the club has gone through a period of transition, with Director of Women’s Rugby Fraser Goatcher and Head Coach Ross Bundy joining in 2025, their key emphasis has been on developing players, and their young side has seen huge growth in potential.

“Given the increase in funding and planned revenue growth that the programme will receive, we are all excited to see the progress that will continue to be made in partnership with PWR.”