“I think I’ll get more emotional, the more I speak, so I’m trying to… erm… “
Ellis Genge welled up on a few occasions but, for the most part, held it together as he reflected on a superb Leicester Tigers comeback from also-rans and relegation-haunted to Premiership champions.
The Leicester Tigers captain arrived at Welford Road at the age of 20 and admitted himself how it was not always easy, during those early years. Aged 27 now, Genge is leaving the club to return to Bristol Bears, next season, but not without leaving as a Premiership champion.
Leicester edged Saracens for most of a tense, kicking-heavy contest at Twickenham, this afternoon, but saw their 12-6 lead erased with four minutes left to play. Steve Borthwick’s side never stopped believing that today would be their day, and so it proved when Freddie Burns slotted over a late drop goal to win it.
Freddie Burns of Leicester Tigers, who scored the winning drop goal, celebrates their side’s win after the final whistle of the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)An emotional post-match interview
Following his side’s 15-12 victory, Ellis Genge spoke with BT Sport about his seven seasons with Leicester Tigers and how it feels to be leaving on a high.
He spoke well on his personal journey and what it means for Leicester, after their league struggles over the past few years and former captain Tom Youngs losing his wife, Tiffany, after a long battle with cancer.
“We had a good year and, for certain reasons, a difficult few weeks for us, as a club.
“We’ve got everything we deserve. These fans are brilliant, but what they don’t see is the 8:30 starts and 4pm finishes, relentlessly. We’ve worked all the way through… I’m just buzzing for the boys.”
“I was never supposed to be here, ever!” he added. “So for me to come to a club with so much prestige, and all those greats that have played before me, to be a small part of that is brilliant! I’ve made some life-long friends, along the way.”
"I was never supposed to be here, ever! So for me to come to a club with so much prestige, to be a small part of that is brilliant!"@LeicesterTigers' Captain Ellis Genge takes it all in as his journey with the club comes to a close ♥️#GallagherPremFinal pic.twitter.com/X7udfmQEFT
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) June 18, 2022
“I’ve come here a boy, at 20. I’m 27 now, so getting on a bit! They’ve given me everything in my rugby career. Don’t get me wrong, I worked hard for it but I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Genge’s teammate Richard Wigglesworth was asked if it would be ‘a quiet night’ after the league win, the scrumhalf joked, “Yeah. A quiet few days!”
