Jim Hamilton admits Leicester Tigers may struggle to make the PREM top four – despite the ‘iconic’ addition of Freddie Burns to their coaching staff.
The podcaster and pundit, 43, believes that new kicking coach Burns can help inspire the Tigers dressing room, but admits that changes in personnel may make the season testing.
Hamilton, who spent the first six seasons of his senior PREM career at Mattioli Woods Welford Road from 2003, hopes that Tigers can make their third consecutive play-off campaign, but is feeling a little anxious.
“My gut feeling says that Leicester Tigers might struggle a bit this year.” said Hamilton, a former Scotland international.
“When you’ve lost George Martin and Nicky Smith – this season it feels like the investment is going the other way.
“Bringing in Freddie Burns is obviously great from a personal perspective, he’s going to add real energy into the group.
“I’m unsure – my gut feeling says that Tigers aren’t a top four side with the squad they have got, but I’m happy to be proven wrong.
“The 10 debate is going to be a big wound for them, Billy Searle was magnificent for them, and I know that Orlando Bailey has been playing a little bit at 10, but I’m hearing he doesn’t want to play there.”
But Hamilton is certainly expecting his good friend and former teammate Burns to inspire the latest batch of Tigers ahead of the PREM campaign.
The man behind that magic title-winning drop goal in 2022 will be valuable in the hardest days of the season, according to the towering Scot.
He added: “Freddie is an icon now. That drop goal is one of the greatest things I’ve seen in PREM history, and I’ve been involved in big moments myself.
“He’s a great man and he's well-travelled, I spent some time with hm when I was in Japan – that gives you life experiences, different coaching perspectives.
“He’s a wonderful person to be around and you need people like that in a long season, in the worst days of the winter, especially in Leicester.”
Hamilton was speaking as an ambassador ahead of this week’s London City 7s event, held in the heart of the capital at the Honourable Artillery Company.
Champions Cup holders Union Bordeaux Bègles are joined by USA Perpignan as French TOP14 sides sending squads to the capital.
And the former Montpellier lock is excited to reach new audiences in the centre of London.
He said: “Rugby is in a good spot and it’s great to be with people who are trying to do innovative things to engage current and new audiences.
“Everyone’s talking about growing the sport and it’s becoming slightly tiresome, what we’re seeing now is people actively doing that.
“The London City 7s is targeting an already engaged audience in the centre of London, bringing rugby, business and great athletes together. The dream is that this becomes an annual event with the best teams from all over the world. We’ve got big ambitions.
“Noah Caluori played last year for Saracens, look at how his 12 months have unfolded. This can become an event where teams see real value in developing and bringing new superstars into the game using 7s as a gateway.
“I played a couple of exhibition matches at the Honourable Artillery Company, with the artillery allegedly underneath the pitch.
“We talk about iconic venues, and we saw that with Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry playing in Baltimore and the British & Irish Lions at the MCG.
“The London City 7s isn’t on that scale, but the City is quintessential England and Britain isn’t it?”
PLEASE LEAVE IN FINAL PAR - London City 7s is world-class rugby sevens on your doorstep, fast, high-scoring action with great food, drink and an electric City crowd. A premium day out, whether you're a die-hard fan or here for the occasion. Buy tickets here
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