'We’ve shown glimpses of how competitive we can be': Fraser Goatcher

Leicester Tigers Director of Women’s Rugby, Fraser Goatcher, wants to see his team turn promise into performance this weekend against Trailfinders Women.

Coming into the contest Trailfinders will be bruised after a close 36-31 loss to Sale Sharks last weekend. Meanwhile, Leicester are well rested having spent Premiership Women’s Rugby’s Round 11 on a bye-week.

When the first whistle blows on Saturday for their Round 12 contest against Trailfinders it will have been a fortnight since Leicester’s 81-0 loss to Saracens.

Even though the scores have, at times, been one-sided, Goatcher has been continually impressed with his young squad’s ability to bounce back from consistent disappointment.

Goatcher said: “We’ve shown glimpses of how competitive we can be as a team. It’s about making sure that it’s not just five to six minutes spells but that it is the majority of the game.”

“Going into this next block of games, that’ll be our main aim, to make sure that we’re as competitive as possible.

“We trust in what we’re trying to achieve and the journey that we’re on, and we know that those wins will come soon.”

Ahead of this season Leicester saw a large number of their senior internationals leave the club. All of Meg Jones, Amy Cokayne, Francesca McGhie, Claire Gallagher, Tahlia Brody, Mae Sagapolu, Evie Willis and Catha Jacobs moved on the pastures now.

In their place the Mattioli Woods Welford Road side did pick up international experience in the form of Mike Gunter, Jemima McCalman, Kristin Bitter, Julia Omokhuale, Katherine Baverstock and Emerson Allen, but bolstered their squad with recruiting top players from clubs like Novocastrians, Buckingham Swans, Lichfield, Cheltenham Tigers and Bath.

“What’s been so refreshing about the group is their constant strive to remain hungry, to remain positive, and to keep working hard, to try to become better rugby players and better as a team,” Goatcher said.

“We’ve got a lot of young players in this team. They’re young players with a hell of a lot of potential, and they have a lot of talent. They are still getting to grips with the PWR standard, and they’re learning fast.”