Tigers build team chemistry with Leicestershire firefighter drills

By Mark Farmer

Leicester Tigers dressed in firefighter get up.

Leicester Tigers spent the afternoon practising team building exercises with firefighters from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue on Monday 14 October in a bid to boost team spirit.

The entire first team squad, which includes the likes of Tom Croft, Manu Tuilagi and Freddie Burns, were taking part in the tasks at Leicester Central Fire Station.

The challenges saw them pit themselves against the firefighters of Leicester Fire and Rescue, as well as their teammates as the squad was split into four groups, competing against each other.

Leicester Tigers’ Press Officer, Andy Mann, said: “It’s about getting the players to think about problems and how they can solve them quickly.”

The players were said to have immense respect for the work of the firefighters.

Mr Mann said: “The players had a lot of respect for the firemen before they arrived but the challenges have really tested them.

“They have even more respect for them now.”

The tasks saw players compete against their teammates and the clock in order to come out on top.

One challenge saw the them build a shelter on the ground, which would have to cover them before water was fired at them from a cherry picker at 3,000 litres per minute.

The entire squad took part in the task, and with only a large plastic sheet and four ladders to serve as protection, they had until the cherry picker and water cannon was in position to take cover.

“It was great fun and the team really enjoyed it,” Mr Mann said.

He added: “It has been a real insight for the players to see how the fire services operate and the team know a lot more about their work now.”

Mr Mann believes the exercise day, which was organised by Director of Rugby, Richard Cockerill, should see improvements on the field as the Tigers’ aim for a for their eleventh Aviva Premiership crown.

He said: “It’s all about bringing the group closer together and improving the reliability between them and their teammates.”

“This should hopefully see some benefit on the pitch as well, as the team grows closer.”

Tigers’ will be hoping this is the case for their next game at home to Harlequins at 3pm on Sunday.