‘It’s the last dance’ – Departures spurring Tigers on

‘It’s the last dance’—Departures ‘spurring Tigers on

What is the connection between a legendary group of outgoing Leicester Tigers players, Air Jordan, and an anti-hero

from comic books?

Each of them starred in a popular “last dance” movie.

It served as both the title of the documentary series that followed basketball legend Michael Jordan’s career and the

theme of his final, spectacular season with the Chicago Bulls in 1997–98.

When External, the last movie in the Venom trilogy starring Tom Hardy, was shown in Hollywood last year, it

received the same treatment.

Leicester will now hope to offer a group of Tigers legends a victorious farewell at Twickenham on Saturday, the

biggest platform in English club rugby.

Despite being unspoken, it has been recognised as “the last dance” by players.

Ben Youngs, a five-time Premiership winner with Tigers, and Dan Cole, who has four league crowns on his own CV,

will both retire at full-time.

They go out together as the two most capped men in English international history.

At the same time, their long-time England teammate Mike Brown, who has been with Tigers since early 2023 and

has won two Premierships with Harlequins, will also retire.

Along with two-time World Cup-winning South African fly-half Handre Pollard and acclaimed head coach Michael

Cheika, the East Midlands team will also lose captain Julian Montoya.

The players themselves have been affected, even though Leicester’s Australian manager has downplayed the

importance of what will be the final 80 minutes for some of the team’s best employees.

England’s scrum-half Youngs’ replacement for club and country, Jack van Poortvliet, claims it has “100% been an

element” that has motivated them.

He told BBC Radio Leicester, “We don’t say it before games, so it hasn’t been something that we have really said out

loud much, but we all know.”

“After exchanging glances, we conclude that it’s their final dance.

“There are two legends in particular that you rightfully want to honour because of what they have done for the team

and the supporters.

“A triumph and a trophy should be given to them as a proper send-off. It has not been said, but I am convinced that

I, along with many of the boys, feel the same way.

The Tigers will play a Bath team who ended 11 points ahead of them at the end of the regular season in an attempt to

win a record-extending 12th Premiership title.

Van Poortvliet will play in his first Grand Final after missing out on Leicester’s thrilling victory over Saracens in the

2022 championship game.

The full-back Freddie Steward, who was 21 when he started that game, claims that the team is now lot more cohesive

than it was three years ago despite the looming loss of important players.

“There are these sub-plots that galvanise a team and bring your team together,” he said.

“Julian is off, Polly is off, Lenny [Youngs] is retiring, and Coley is definitely retiring. These guys are a big part of our

team.

“You nearly want to do it for them even more. This season, more than ever, you do it for each other as much as the

coaches, the fans, and your family.

“We want to give those guys a farewell, and you can probably see the difference that has been created by the end of

the season.

“The boys are fighting more fiercely than ever, and there’s a sense of urgency to be at Twickenham on Saturday.”

Indeed, we shall have a chance.

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