Titcombe handed first Premiership start at fly-half as Leicester face Exeter with two rookies

Charlie Titcombe will start at fly-half for Leicester Tigers against Exeter Chiefs at Welford Road on Sunday, thrust into his first Gallagher Premiership appearance after both of the club’s senior options at ten were ruled out through injury. Billy Searle has been lost for the remainder of the season, while James O’Connor was forced off during last weekend’s 47-33 win over Sale Sharks in round 16.

Titcombe, 24, came through the Leicester academy before spells at Worcester, Scarlets, and Japanese side Sagamihara Dynaboars. He returned to the club ahead of this season and made his first-team debut against Saracens in the Premiership Cup in September. He now steps up with Leicester chasing a top-four finish and a home play-off tie.

Head coach Geoff Parling backed the young fly-half to deliver. “Tits will come in at 10 having impressed in training since his return from Japan, and we look forward to him driving our game in front of our fans,” Parling said.

The only other change to the matchday 23 sees 20-year-old George Pearson start at full-back in place of Freddie Steward, who has undergone thumb surgery. Steward’s absence means he misses out on what would have been his 100th Premiership appearance for the club. England Under-20 international Pearson has made just 12 first-team appearances to date and will also be making his first Premiership start.

Sunday’s fixture will mark a milestone for flanker Hanro Liebenberg, who makes his 150th appearance for Leicester Tigers. The South African-born back-row forward has been a consistent presence in the side since his debut season in 2019/20.

Exeter head coach Rob Baxter has played down the significance of the two sides’ most recent meeting, insisting the 66-14 Premiership Rugby Cup final defeat his team suffered against Leicester at Welford Road in March will have no bearing on Sunday’s league encounter.