Leicester

Investec Champions Cup

Pau (17) 41

Tries: Marta 2, Zabala, Grandidier Nkanang, Brau-Boirie Cons: Desperes 5 Pens: Desperes 2

Leicester Tigers (10) 17

Tries: Chessum, Van der Flier Cons: Searle 2 Pen: Searle

Leicester Tigers began their Champions Cup campaign with a 41-17 defeat by French club Pau.

Portugal international Rodrigo Marta crossed for two of the home side’s five tries, with a late burst helping them earn a bonus point from their Pool One opener.

Despite falling behind to an early Pau penalty, Leicester did well in the early exchanges, their tactical kicking game keeping them camped in their opponents’ territory.

Billy Searle’s 50-22 put the Tigers in superb field position and they capitalised through captain Ollie Chessum, who was making his first appearance of the season after recovering from a foot injury.

Pau fought back well, however, showing their quality with three tries in a 20-minute spell either side of half-time.

They had already seen a Sacha Zegueur try ruled out for a knock-on before Marta, the leading try-scorer in this season’s Top 14 with six in five appearances, and prop Jon Zebala touched down late in the first half.

Centre Marta raced in again from 30 metres to extend Pau’s lead after the interval.

Archie van der Flier powered over in the corner to move Leicester back within seven points, but that would be the final time Leicester would be within range of a losing bonus point, as Pau scored 17 points without reply.

Fly-half Axel Desperes added a further penalty, Theo Attissogbe sent winger Aaron Grandidier Nkanang over unchallenged in the corner and Fabien Brau-Boirie intercepted a Leicester pass to complete the scoring.

Leicester’s remaining Pool One matches are against Clermont Auvergne, Glasgow Warriors and Leinster.

The three players have arrived at Welford Road at contrasting times during their careers.

Wainwright is the new kid on the block despite, having played 70 internationals in a nine-year Wales career that includes a Grand Slam title and two Six Nations triumphs. He has also played at two World Cups.

Wainwright moved to Leicester after almost a decade at Dragons to join a growing influx of Wales’ top players in England.

Wales captains Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan have joined Gloucester, with Louis Rees-Zammit, Dafydd Jenkins, Tomos Williams, Nicky Smith, Rhys Carre, Archie Griffin, Tomas Francis and Christ Tshiunza among those also playing in the Prem.

Wainwright is in a lift-share with Reffell and fly-half Billy Searle.

“Reff is keeping keeping me company in the morning, so he’s doing a good job of helping me settle in,” said Wainwright.

“He has helped introduce me to everyone and it felt a bit like it was a first day at school.

“I was nervous but everyone’s been welcoming and I feel I have settled in.”

Wainwright made an instant impression with his team-mates on his debut after setting up Wales wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb with a try-scoring pass against Saracens.

“He moves like a back and hits like a forward,” said Hamer-Webb.

“He has this engine on him that just does not stop and that’s part of the Leicester Tigers DNA.

“He’s also got that soft touch that you saw when he assisted me against Saracens with that great pass.

“I have seen him play before but to be on the same pitch as him and see how he moves, he is phenomenal.”

Wainwright has also become a firm fans’ favourite, as indicated by an incident after the away victory at Newcastle.

“I saw some of the fans and there’s a few that had the headbands and wigs on and I had a photo,” said Wainwright.

“One of them just snuck me a packet of Welsh cakes to take home on the bus. That was a nice touch.”

The 29-year-old still has a fondness for his home city having opened a cafe in Newport.

He has also taken on a director of coaching role at his boyhood club Whiteheads RFC, despite living in a Leicestershire village almost three hours away.

Wainwright deserved his move after being such a loyal servant, playing in a Dragons side that was not used to winning. There were 33 victories, 97 defeats and eight draws in his 138 matches.

Leicester are preparing for the start of the Champions Cup matches away in Pau on Sunday, with Wainwright having never played in the top-tier competition.

He missed the only two Champions Cup games that Dragons played while he was at Rodney Parade, which came back in 2020.

Now, one of Wales’ elite back rowers is finally set to grace Europe’s elite tournament.