Ulster Rugby v Leicester Tigers

DAVID DENTON OPPOSITION THREE TO WATCH

Scotland international back-rower David Denton agreed a move to Leicester Tigers in the summer of 2018. Born in Zimbabwe, Denton moved to Scotland as a student and played for Edinburgh Academicals before joining the national academy and was awarded a professional contract at Edinburgh in 2010/11. He played for Scotland Under-20s and Sevens on his way to a senior Test debut in the build-up to the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The big back-rower known for his powerful ball-carrying made a move to the Premiership in 2015, first with Bath and then with Worcester Warriors for the 2017/18 season before making a switch to Tigers.

A dual-code international capable of playing at inside-centre, fly- half and fullback, Kyle Eastmond made the switch from rugby league to union in 2011 after a decorated career with St. Helens where he debuted in the top grade at just 17 years of age. Eastmond went on to appear in more than 70 matches for St. Helens in the Super League competition, and on four occasions for England, before signing with Bath for the 2012/13 Premiership Rugby season. It wasn’t long before the versatile Eastmond made a name for himself in the 15-man code and in less than two seasons was selected as part of the England set up.

KYLE EASTMOND

A Tigers Academy graduate, fly-half George Ford made 40 first-team appearances between 2009 and 2013, then returned to the club as an established England international for the start of the 2017/18 season. George played in Premier Rugby ‘A’ League Final wins for Tigers in 2010 and 2011, then returned from the World Juniors to start the 2011/12 Premiership season in the No. 10 shirt. He ended his breakthrough campaign with a starting role in the Premiership semi-final and final in 2012 as well as playing in semi-final and final of the Anglo-Welsh Cup. After winning a Premiership title with Tigers in 2013, he moved to Bath, winning the Gilbert Golden Boot as the Premiership’s top points-scorer in his first season and the LV= Young Player of the Year award. George made his Test debut for England in the 2014 Six Nations, went to the 2015World Cup and shared in Championship wins in 2016 and 2017.

GEORGE FORD

48

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM