Full-back Tess Feury says Leicester Tigers will lean into their underdog status this season as they begin their campaign at Sale Sharks on Saturday and then return home to Mattioli Woods Welford Road on 2 November.
Feury, one of the USA internationals in the side, is part of a squad featuring six World Cup returnees. The Tigers have added new players ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, including international recruits such as South Africa’s Micke Gunter and USA’s Emerson Allen, alongside GB Sevens star Georgie Lingham.
A new coaching team led by Fraser Goatcher and Ross Bundy completes the changes, following last season’s eighth-place finish.
The 29-year-old says she sees small gains daily in training: “Whether it’s one-two more line-breaks or getting the ball wide an extra time.”
She emphasises the team is still “in its infancy” and views their youth and new energy as a strength: “We’re embracing the fact that we’re young… rather than trying to be something we’re not.” She believes that over an 18-game season, consistency will deliver results.
With a largely revamped squad and fresh leadership, the Tigers are focused on building momentum from match to match.
Feury says the key will be ticking the boxes each week and letting the performance do the talking: “We have the opportunity to build week-on-week. And the results will come if we just keep ticking the boxes.”