Leicester could take action against fans after ‘personal threats’ following Bristol comeback

Leicester Tigers 19 Bristol Bears 21

Leicester Tigers have warned they could take “formal action” against fans after the club were made aware of a number of instances of threats and abuse towards players and coaches following their late defeat to Bristol on Saturday.

Dan McKellar’s side led 19-0 with just 12 minutes to go at Welford Road, but Bristol scored three late tries to clinch victory and keep themselves in the play-off places.

On Saturday evening, Leicester shared a statement on social media expressing their concern with the reaction to the earlier result.

“While we understand the disappointment following today’s result, personal threats or abuse directed at players, coaches and / or staff on social media is not acceptable and will not be tolerated by the club,” the statement read.

“We have seen and received reports from fellow fans with examples of abuse which, if deemed necessary, will result in formal action against Season Ticket Holders or supporters identified as directing abusive or threatening language towards individuals.”

For Bristol, the Bears’ remarkable rollercoaster hit its most vertiginous, nauseating loop-the-loop at Leicester, but it has remained on its tracks ended the Tigers’ faint play-off hopes.

Bristol remain fourth by dint of matches won and this victory could turn out to be the most valuable of their staggering run of form. For 68 minutes, the Bears’ minds and souls were still on the M5. After the 85 points scored in the demolition of Newcastle last week, Pat Lam’s side had been hopeless with the ball for over an hour and could not even muster one. Leicester, 19-0 up, were cruising after an Ollie Hassell-Collins brace and a further Francois van Wyk score.

Bristol, dead and buried, needed a hero. Enter Max Lahiff. If anyone had money on Bristol’s replacement tighthead as the Bears’ first try-scorer then they would have won a small fortune. With Mike Brown off the field after a second yellow card for a high tackle on Benhard Janse van Rensburg, a quickfire Lahiff double and Magnus Bradbury’s late score, converted by AJ MacGinty, sealed the most unlikely smash-and-grab at a sold-out Welford Road; Bristol’s sixth league win in a row and, given Harlequins’ bonus-point victory over Northampton, it might prove to be their most invaluable in the race for the top four with just two matches remaining.

“A lot of belief, heart and character,” said Pat Lam, Bristol director of rugby. “I know we can score four or five tries in 10, 15 minutes. So I was looking at the clock and thinking: ‘Keep going, keep believing.’ At half-time, we did not show them mistakes, we showed them opportunities. That experience will add to the stuff we’ve built over the year to be even more confident.”

After a fractious and ill-tempered first half – both Brown and Ibitoye were sent to the sin bin and referee Matthew Carley had to lecture several players about their conduct – Leicester led 7-0 at half-time, with Dan Kelly’s scorching pass sending Hassell-Collins over. The wing crossed again before Van Wyk stretched Leicester’s lead, but in spite of Ollie Chessum and Freddie Steward’s excellence, it never felt enough. The Bristol comeback, with former Tiger Harry Thacker instrumental, delivered a third straight home defeat for Leicester, their worst run since 2019. B

“I feel like I’ve been kicked in the guts,” said Dan McKellar, Leicester head coach. “I’m still finding it hard to accept that we found a way to lose that game. Ultimately, the second card hurt but I’m not putting it on Browny as he was otherwise outstanding. At 19-0 up we were well in control, maybe should have been up by more. We were outstanding today for 70 minutes and I can’t believe I’m sitting here as the losing coach.”

For Leicester, it is season over. For Bristol, the thrill ride continues but, with the Premiership play-off race set to be one of the tightest in history, a repeat of the opening 68 minutes at Welford Road could be fatal to their hopes. If the final 12 is repeated, however, the Bears will be a force to be reckoned with.

Match details

Scoring sequence: 5-0 Hassell-Collins try, 7-0 Pollard con, 12-0 Hassell-Collins try, 17-0 Van Wyk try, 19-0 Pollard con, 19-5 Lahiff try, 19-7 Williams con, 19-12 Lahiff try, 19-14 MacGinty con, 19-19 Bradbury try, 19-21 MacGinty con. H-T: 7-0

Leicester Tigers: F Steward; M Brown, M Scott (Cokanasiga 75), D Kelly, O Hassell-Collins; H Pollard, J van Poortvliet (Whiteley 61); J Cronin (Van Wyk 55), J Montoya (c) (Clare 58), D Cole (Hurd 55), G Martin (Wells 65), O Chessum, H Liebenberg (Cracknell 68), T Reffell, J Wiese.

Replacements unused: Shillcock.

Yellow card: Brown 21, 71

Red card: Brown 71

Bristol Bears: R Lane (O’Conor 65); S Naulago, B Janse van Rensburg (MacGinty 71), J Williams, G Ibitoye; AJ MacGinty (Vakatawa 61), H Randall (Marmion 69); E Genge (Woolmore 65), G Oghre (Thacker 65), K Sinckler (Lahiff 65), J Dun (Caulfield 58), J Batley, S Luatua, F Harding (c), M Bradbury.

Replacements unused: Heenan.

Yellow card: Ibitoye 15

Attendance: 25,849

Referee: M Carley