| In the last decade we have had to be second best to the Tigers, but I sense there is a wind of change in the air. I have always admired and respected them enormously. The sixty-four dollar question is can the next decade belong to us? We’ll certainly be trying. A big, big welcome to their directors, coaches, team and supporters. They are a physical side anyway, and tonight they will want to be more so. We will not want to take a backward step, but neither do we intend to be suckered into a slow spoiling game. Let’s attack, attack, attack and if we go down fighting, so be it. No quarter will be asked, none given and to the victor the spoils. A very special welcome to Matt Hampson and his family who I hope will be here tonight. Matt had a horrific accident here at Franklin’s Gardens while playing for a young England team. I am 100 per cent sure this guy will recover as medicine is improving all the time, but in the meantime Matt needs a leg-up over the stile. We have helped in a couple of fund-raising events and are hoping to present Matt with a cheque for circa £18,000 tonight. The clubs have all been fund-raising and thank you tremendously for all your generosity. I have spent a very fruitful couple of hours with James Sinclair, our Academy director, talking about the way forward. We want to improve our academy greatly. In the season ending 2005, we spent £292,000 on the academy. This year that was increased to £546,000 and next year this will be increased to £692,000 – an extra £400,000 in two years. Part of this is funded by the RFU who give us £172,000 a year. This represented 58 per cent in 2005. Next year, this will be less than 25 per cent. I make no comment other than to say please bear this in mind chaps when you keep whingeing on about how little help you get from clubs. Just one more home game left then on May 6 against Sale. Although the game is already a sell-out, it is always worth enquiring about returned tickets. I do hope a lot of you will make the trip to Bristol for our away game down there on Sunday, April 30. Your support is so important to the players as they battle to get us into next year’s Heineken Cup. Finally, season tickets will be on sale soon. Make certain of your seat next year. The SOLD OUT signs have been up for most of the season. Keep smiling. | 
