Tame Tigers crash out of Europe

LEICESTER boss Marcelo Loffreda has offered no excuses after the double Heineken Cup winners were rushed out of Europe with indecent haste.

The Tigers, European champions in 2001 and 2002, have become England’s first major casualty of a tournament Guinness Premiership clubs look like dominating this season. London Irish, Gloucester, Saracens and holders Wasps are all queuing up to claim prized quarter-final places.

Leicester though, must ruefully reflect on just a third pool stage exit in 11 European campaigns after being undone 17-12 by Andy Robinson’s Edinburgh at Murrayfield.