Investec Champions Cup: Anthony Watson returns for much-changed Leicester against Stade Francais
- Published
Anthony Watson last played during a World Cup warm-up game against Ireland in August
Investec Champions Cup: Pool 4 - Stade Francais v Leicester Tigers |
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Venue: Stade Jean-Bouin Dates: Sunday, 17 December Kick-off: 17:30 GMT |
Coverage: Score updates and match report on the BBC Sport website |
England wing Anthony Watson returns from injury for Leicester's Investec Champions Cup game against Stade Francais.
Watson, 29, has not played since he was was ruled out of the Rugby World Cup with a calf injury sustained against Ireland in August.
England flanker George Martin also returns in a much-changed Tigers side from their opening win over Stormers.
Flanker Hanro Liebenberg captains the side looking to win back-to-back games.
Matt Rogerson and Kyle Hatherell, who both start their first Champions Cup game for the club, join Liebenberg in the back row.
"It's great for us to have both George and Anthony back in the team and I'm sure our supporters will be delighted to see them in a Tigers shirt again," head coach Dan McKellar told the club website.
"Both have worked hard over the last couple of weeks to prepare themselves physically to play and to pick up the knowledge required to execute their role."
Half-backs Jamie Shillcock and Tom Whiteley also make their first European starts for the Tigers in place of Handre Pollard, who scored 20 points against the Stormers, and Ben Youngs.
"We're on the back-straight of 22 consecutive fixtures and it was important to give guys an opportunity to play this week while freshening others," added McKellar.
Stade Francais have made changes too following their opening-game defeat by Sale Sharks.
England centre Joe Marchant comes back into the side, having missed that game.
La Rochelle, Leinster, Stormers and Sale are the other sides in Pool 4.
Line-ups
Stade Francais: Barre; Hamdaoui, Marchant, Jeremy Ward, Laloi, Segonds, Zabalza; Castets, Ivaldi, Alo-Emile, Gabrillagues, Pesenti, Macalou, Briatte, Hirigoyen.
Replacements: Peyresblanques, Alo-Emile, Kodela, Azagoh, Ahmed, Gimbert, Chapuis, Van der Mescht.
Leicester Tigers: Brown; Watson, Kelly, Kata, Hassell-Collins; Shillcock, Whiteley; Cronin, Vanes, Heyes, Martin, Carter, Liebenberg, Rogerson, Hatherell.
Replacements: Theobald-Thomas, Whitcombe, Hurd, Wells, Ilione, Powell, Atkinson, Simmons.
Referee: Nika Amashukeli