Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill has admitted that he is excited to see his much-changed back line in action next season.

Key backs including Horacio Agulla, Alesana Tuilagi and Billy Twelvetrees have all left the Tigers over the summer but Cockerill has like-for-like replacements in Miles Benjamin, Daniel Bowden and Vereniki Goneva.

"They all give us more of a threat on the wings, and we have a big back line when you start throwing guys like Manu Tuilagi into the mix as well," Cockerill told the Leicester Mercury.

"The balance of those guys, along with Bowden, Toby Flood, George Ford, Ben Youngs and Anthony Allen, will be good to watch. If anything, we have that X factor and our firepower will be even better this season."

Cockerill also hopes to have England international Matt Tait back for the coming season after a long spell on the sidelines.

Written by
Nik Simon