Rookie given big chance at 10 as Leicester make minimal changes

Charlie Titcombe will make his Gallagher PREM start against Exeter on Sunday with both of Leicester’s first-choice fly-halves ruled out through injury.

Billy Searle is out for the season, while James O’Connor is unavailable after coming off with a knock in the 47-33 win against Sale Sharks in round 16.

Titcombe, who came through the Leicester academy, returned to the club ahead of the start of this season after spells at Worcester, Scarlets, and in Japan with Sagamihara Dynaboars.

The 24-year-old made his first-team debut against Saracens in the PREM Cup in September and now finds himself in the thick of the Tigers’ bid to qualify for a home game in the play-offs.

The only other change to the matchday 23 sees George Pearson replace Freddie Steward, who has undergone surgery on a thumb injury one game short of making a century of PREM appearances for Tigers.

England U20 international Pearson is only 20 years of age and has been limited to just 12 first-team games and will also make his first PREM start, at full-back.

Sunday’s match will mark Hanro Liebenberg’s 150th appearance for Leicester Tigers, who has been a mainstay in the side since his debut season in 2019/20.

Head coach Geoff Parling said, “Tits (Charlie Titcombe) will come in at 10 having impressed in training since his return from Japan, and we look forward to him driving our game in front of our fans.”

Leicester team vs Exeter (appearances):
15. George Pearson (12)
14. Adam Radwan (30)
13. Will Wand (37)
12. Orlando Bailey (25)
11. Ollie Hassell-Collins (73)
10. Charlie Titcombe (5)
9. Jack van Poortvliet (111)
1. Nicky Smith (43)
2. Jamie Blamire (23)
3. Joe Heyes (180)
4. George Martin (77)
5. Ollie Chessum © (83)
6. Hanro Liebenberg (149)
7. Tommy Reffell (154)
8. Joaquin Moro (27)

Replacements
16. Charlie Clare (146)
17. Archie van der Flier (23)
18. Will Hurd (76)
19. Cameron Henderson (83)
20. Hamish Watson (4)
21. Olly Cracknell (83)
22. Tom Whiteley (65)
23. Solomone Kata (55)