The versatile back made his competitive debut in the Tigers’ 50-6 Premiership Cup win against Caldy last weekend, fulfilling a long-held dream.
Despite being best-known for his days as a Worcester player, it was the Tigers who first captured a schoolboy Shillcock’s imagination.
“I am not from too far away, I am from Warwick and Mum and Dad are still there. I always used to do the (Tigers) development camps and the summertime camps when I was little so I’ve always kind of had an affiliation with Leicester in my heart,” the 26-year-old said.
“It was nice to run out as a Tigers player, as opposed to being an opposition player, and have the crowd behind you for a change rather than give you some stick if you make a mistake.
“Being able to run out with Smoke on the Water going (Leicester’s famous run-on anthem) and the crowd cheering you on was just something I had been waiting for a long, long time.”
Shillcock’s signing for the 2023/24 season was officially announced in January but the deal was pretty much over the line 10 months ago, when he made his one and only appearance for Bath, ironically against the Tigers.
“I played at full-back which went well. I think Bath ended up winning with the last play of the game (19-18) and at the time I don’t think Steve (Borthwick, then Leicester head coach) was that impressed I played against them!!”
Esta historia es de la edición September 24, 2023 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición September 24, 2023 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Campese: Schmidt is wrong man for Aussies
DAVID Campese delivered a blunt message regarding Joe Schmidt’s position as Australia’s head coach, claiming the Kiwi isn’t right for the role because he doesn’t understand the Wallabies’ culture and history.
How London Welsh are working way back to top
William Gupwell goes down to south-west London to find a club out to rediscover itself
Sorry, Geoff, but let's not de-power scrums
EVERY week I can’t wait for Sunday to come around so that I can read The Rugby Paper and see what is really happening in our game.
Howdy! England pair saddle up to spread the word
JESS Breach and Ellie Kildunne have launched their new podcast Rugby Rodeo with one ambition in mind – to grow the profile of the women’s game.
I put in three good shots on Jonah Lomu
BACK in the day, when we first started in Leagues in 1987, we began in North East 2.
Dupont & Co need to take on the very best
I THINK we established long ago that my admiration of Antoine Dupont knows no bounds, he is the best rugby player I have ever reported on or watched in the flesh, pipping Gareth Edwards by a short head, but there is no question that there is a gaping huge hole in his CV which many cite against him when the all-time lists are compiled and debated.
Tuipulotu's power is too much for Cardiff
SCOTLAND star Sione Tuipulotu has been hailed as one of the best three 12s in the world following his player of the match display in this 13-try rollercoaster at the Arms Park.
Following in father's footsteps ... but for how long?
CAST your minds back, those of you who are sufficiently long in the tooth, to Melbourne in late October 2003.
Borthwick should call up these young props
IT WAS surprising that neither of England’s U20 world champion props, Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale) or Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester), were in the England training squad going to Portugal ahead of the autumn series.
Lively Reed lights the spark to ignite Sharks
AARON Reed proved to be Sale’s pivotal weapon, and the perfect foil in both attack and defence to ensure Sharks came out on the right side of a nine-try nailbiter on Friday.
