Leicester Tigers vs Gloucester Prediction: Tigers to roar back after European frustration
Two of the great names of English rugby meet on Friday (19:45 GMT, TNT Sports 1), when Leicester host Gloucester at Welford Road.
Below are my Leicester Tigers vs Gloucester predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.
Leicester Tigers vs Gloucester Betting Tips
- Leicester Tigers -12 @ 10/11
*odds correct at time of publication
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The Tigers go into the game after a brace of Champions Cup defeats. First, a young side lost 39-20 in La Rochelle before their big guns pushed Leinster in a 23-15 loss.
Gloucester also rotated in Europe, beating Castres 34-14 at Kingsholm before Munster's experience told in last Saturday's 31-3 defeat in Cork.
Back to domestic action this Friday, the Tigers are fourth in the table and have won all three home games.
Meanwhile, Gloucester are ninth, not helped by three away defeats, and there is little to suggest this 19:45 night game under the lights won't go with the formbook.
Team News
Leicester's Australian centre Izaia Perese returns for this game, but that is the Tigers' only change from the side who faced Leinster. However, England pair Ollie Chessum and Jack van Poortvliet are among the replacements at Wellford Road.
Nepolo Laulala returns from suspension in the front row for Gloucester. Mikey Austin, Will Knight and Josh Hathaway are included as replacements.
Leicester Tigers vs Gloucester Odds
The Tigers can be backed at 1/5 to win on Friday, with the draw 22/1 and Gloucester 18/5 for a rare victory.
The three-way handicap is set at 11 points, with Leicester -11 available at 10/11.
Leicester Tigers -12 @ 10/11
The last fortnight has been bruising for Leicester, and two opening Champions Cup defeats may persuade Geoff Parling to focus on domestic rugby, with his aim being to go one better than predecessor Michael Cheika, who guided the team to last season's Grand Final.
Results at Welford Road will be crucial, and his team have beaten Harlequins (29-19), champions Bath (22-20) and Sale (36-35).
Gloucester won at Sale in the Premiership Rugby Cup but have beaten only Newcastle away from home in the league in 2025.
The Cherry and Whites have won just once at Welford Road in 17 years and have been well beaten in the Prem at Sale (27-10), Bath (38-17) and Exeter (39-12).
It has been a big week at Gloucester following the news that Welsh captains Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan will join from Ospreys next season, but skipper and scrum-half Tomos Williams will depart and be replaced by Dan Robson, who returns after a three-year stint at Pau.
Williams' burgeoning half-back partnership with Ross Byrne has been a real positive for George Skivington this season, and those two have the quality to unsettle Leicester.
However, the Tigers' home wins over Bath and Sale show how good they are, and Parling's team can run away to a convincing pre-Christmas victory.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
Rugby Union betting tips from Betfred Insights.
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