Dean Richards at Leicester's press conference today confirmed that the Tigers are facing an injury crisis going into the new season:

"We have huge problems in our back line at the moment. In terms of injuries it is the worst I've ever known it.... There must be about ten back line players carrying injuries."

Geordan Murphy will not be back until October following shoulder surgery whilst Leon Lloyd is still recovering and will not return until the end of September along with Rod Kafer (groin) and Glenn Gelderbloom (calf).

The training session today resulted in another casualty with Ollie Smith tearing his hamstring. This mixture of both long term and short term injuries are affecting Richards' plans:

"Because we have got so many injuries we haven't been able to put the work into our back line like we wanted to."

However Richards was keen to point out that he is confident going into the new season, but he did not rule out the possibility of a short-term signing or loan to cover potentially weak areas in the backs. The squad as a whole have also not lost their hunger for winning and he believes that this will be crucial to their continuing success. Retaining the Premiership title will be a challenge though:

"I think it's fair to say that this year we are more concerned about every team we play against.... This is a tougher Premiership campaign."

Richards stated that he believed Gloucester are a major threat this season, particularly because of the arrival of Dean Ryan and that based on last years performance Sale were as well. Bath and Saracens were also picked out by Richards as unknown quantities after big changes in their backroom personal.

Meanwhile Richards brushed the club vs. country dilemma aside:

"I don't think there is too much of a club vs. country issue...There is a compromise somewhere there that can be reached, and it is almost resolved."

Richards said that he understood Clive Woodward's point of view and that it was important for an agreement to be reached for the sake of England's chances in the World Cup next autumn. However he did agree with Nigel Melville of Gloucester who on Monday stated that he would like to know what new skills are needed for international players that the clubs are not teaching them.