Radwan embraces Franklin's Gardens hostility as Leicester chase famous semi-final upset

Adam Radwan is embracing the pressure of a hostile away atmosphere as Leicester head to Franklin’s Gardens on Friday night for their Gallagher Premiership play-off semi-final against table-topping Northampton, a fixture that has produced only six away winners in 43 games since the play-offs were introduced more than two decades ago.

The 28-year-old winger, whose resurgent form this season helped the Tigers secure fourth place and a knockout trip to their East Midlands neighbours, insists those statistics carry little weight in the dressing room. Leicester arrive with momentum after a commanding 41-17 victory over Northampton last month, a result that cemented their play-off place and, according to Radwan, left a mark on both sides of the rivalry.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” Radwan said. “It’s going to be a hostile crowd, it’s going to be a tough place to go but I love that kind of atmosphere. I love the hostility and everything that comes with it.”

Radwan added that the significance of the fixture has galvanised the squad. “I think as a squad we have a little bit more edge about us, there’s a bit more fire in people. It means a huge amount to the area, and there’s a proper buzz about the place. You see how much it means to the lads here, and you see how much that rivalry runs through them — it’s genuinely infectious.”

His performances this season have also drawn him back into England contention. Radwan made two appearances under Eddie Jones and has recently linked up with Steve Borthwick’s England alignment squad, though he is keeping his focus firmly on club matters. “My number one priority is making sure whenever I put a Leicester shirt on, I play as best I possibly can,” he said. “I think if I’m doing that consistently, opportunities will come off the back of that.”

Leicester head coach Geoff Parling struck a measured tone when asked about the significance of last month’s win over Northampton, warning his side against complacency and stressing the importance of discipline — an area in which the Tigers led the Premiership during the regular season.

“You can always reference and look back at any opposition and what happened last time, whilst knowing that this is a completely different game with a completely different set of moments,” Parling said. “It’s important to stay clear in the head. We speak about being calm, clear and decisive. You can’t be ragged up top — you can have your heart burning but your head’s got to be nice and clear.”

For Leicester, Friday’s tie also carries the added motivation of avenging last season’s final defeat to Bath. A win at Franklin’s Gardens would put them one step closer to a shot at redemption.