By Paul Smith 
In 1997 Tony Blair became Prime Minister, Diana Princess of Wales died in a Paris car crash, Chris Evans left Radio One, Hong Kong returned to China and Coventry last met Leicester in a competitive rugby match.
It will therefore be a historic moment for the current generation of Cov players – many of whom were yet to be born in those far-gone late 90’s days – when they step on the Welford Road turf in the second round of the Premiership Rugby Cup this Saturday.
Like football’s M69 derby, the home-and-away double-header between the Tigers and the Blue-and-Whites was for many years a keenly fought local rivalry and according to Coventry club historian John Butler between 1946 and 1998 the clubs met every season with the wins almost exactly shared.
Leicester have since gone on to win multiple Premierships and European Cups – and with a nice symmetry become the English rugby superpower that Cov had previously been during the amateur, pre-league days of the 50s, 60s and 70s.
With their leading lights involved in the Autumn International series, the Tigers side that lines up on Saturday will be missing a few familiar faces. However, Coventry head coach Alex Rae still expects his team to meet opponents of the highest quality.
“For us getting a chance to play Leicester for the first time in years is brilliant,” he said.
“We’re two historic clubs and of course Leicester over the last 20 years have become a name that everyone is very much aware of around the rugby-playing world.
“It’s going to be a great fixture, a big local derby and the kind of game that players and coaches want to be involved with.
“From the outside looking in Leicester seem to have a really good buzz around them since Michael Cheika and the new coaching group arrived.
“They seem like the Leicester of old who were really tough to beat and that belief quickly filters down through the whole squad.”
Rae said his team are preparing to face a strong Tigers outfit but make the journey down the M69 with plenty of confidence following their six-match unbeaten start to the season.
“The young players who get chances during these three rounds of cup games will all want to make a big impression on the Leicester coaches so we’re expecting the kind of combative, tough game you always get at Welford Road,” he said.
“We’re expecting to face a mix of first team players and some very talented youngsters but whoever they pick they’ll feel a massive responsibility playing at home at Welford Road against local opponents like us.
“Last year in the cup we beat Saracens, drew with Harlequins and lost in the last minute at Gloucester. If you do the aggregate score we were ahead of the three Premiership teams and again this year we’re aiming to qualify for the quarter-finals and make some noise.”
Tickets for Cov’s next home game in the cup against Northampton on Saturday November 23rd can be purchased at https://www.coventryrugby.co.uk/tickets/matchday-tickets/
