Page "Leicester Tigers" Paragraph 29

It was announced on 28 December 2006 that the head coach Pat Howard would leave the club at the end of the season, to return to his native Australia.

He was succeeded by the then-head coach of, Marcelo Loffreda after the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Loffreda guided Leicester through the group stages of the EDF cup to the semi final where they defeated Wasps in a knock-out game for the first time since the 1980s.

This set up a rematch of the previous years final against the Ospreys, which Leicester lost.

After losing all away games in the Heineken Cup that season Leicester failed to progress to the quarter finals.

In the league Leicester struggled until a last minute last day try by Tom Varndell beat Harlequins to set up a rematch of the previous seasons Premiership Final against Gloucester.

Once again Leicester were successful late on, this time utilising Andy Goode's kicking to secure a last minute victory.

In the final they had no such luck losing to perennial rivals London Wasps.

After this final ; despite guiding Leicester to two Twickenham finals and only being in the job 7 months Loffreda was sacked.