Team ethos
The bedrock of Leicester's success over the past decade has been the astounding commitment of local legends such as Martin Johnson, Darren Garforth and Neil Back. They have never given an iota less than their all for the Tigers, even when they have returned exhausted from England duty. There is also an absence of ego.
"There's no one person bigger than the club and we all play for each other," stresses the England hooker Dorian West. "It's just something that has always happened at Leicester. When John Wells and Dean Richards were playing it was the same; there was no specialness about anybody and that has been passed down. I can't remember any player getting a rollicking from the coaches but you get them from the rest of the team. If you're not pulling your weight somebody will tell you."
Austin Healey well remembers being punched in the face by his new colleague Richard Cockerill during a game of touch rugby shortly after signing for the club. From that moment he knew that flash types would not be tolerated at Leicester.
"We've also been lucky that the nucleus of the team have been at Leicester for a long time," continues West. "We've got pride in the club and believe in what we're doing. You can get 15 superstars from all over the world but, when it comes down to it, when the weather's not so good, when the chips are down, are they going to want it as much as the lads who love the club they're playing for? I don't think they do."
Self-motivation
"We care a great deal about this club and we are all hugely competitive animals," says Martin Johnson. "There have been times when I've been man of the match one week and not been in the starting line-up the next," adds England's youngest back-row member, Lewis Moody.
Fuelling this relentless competitiveness, more often than not, is an acutely developed sense of grievance. It is not just the Newcastle director of rugby Rob Andrew - "They're the most streetwise team in the league" - who irritates them. "When we achieved our treble last year, people didn't appreciate how much it took," argues Wells, the coach. "It spoke absolute volumes for the players' durability and their motivation. We still hold the all-conquering Bath team of the 1980s and 90s in high and mighty respect because, having done something similar ourselves, we know how bloody difficult it is. It's easy to make Leicester favourites but this is a very tough sport."
They never give up and, more important, no one takes anything for granted, as individuals or as a team. "That's always our mindset," insists Wells. As if to prove it, he adds: "We may be in great positions to win three competitions this season but we haven't won anything yet."
Last weekend 25 Leicester players were on representative duty at various levels. "I hate it when I see people slagging Leicester off for not releasing players," growls Wells. "We do our best and we do more than most."
Coaching and recruiting
"Dean [Richards, the team manager] and Wellsy, particularly, are very good judges of a football player," says Rod Kafer, Leicester's former Wallaby fly-half. "Not just in their ability on the field but also off it and how they might fit into the environment and psyche of the club. There are guys in the competition who are better players than some of the other guys we've got here but don't perform as well week-in week-out.
"They look for people who are intelligent footballers: players who can read a game on the field and lead others. Take Austin. He's obviously quite outspoken but he's also a guy who leads from the front and by example. The other key is to get people who can step up and take over the roles of the internationals when they are away. It's not just finding the best players, it's finding the best balance of players."
If Wells and Richards do sign an overseas player - Joel Stransky, Pat Howard, Josh Kronfeld, Kafer for example - they always take character into account as well as ability, seeking players who can teach the squad something new on the training field rather than simply shine at weekends.
"We'd rather have one or two quality ones than a whole host of get-in-through-the-back-door-type overseas players," agrees Wells. Kafer was specifically hired to pass on his inside knowledge of how the sophisticated, free-running ACT Brumbies backline operates. "But we endeavour to make sure that, wherever possible, we bring in local people."
Welford Road effect
It is now 221 weeks since Leicester last lost at home to an English club. "They're not intimidated by us, they're intimidated by themselves," says a scornful Healey, unimpressed by the failure of opposing sides to end the jinx. "There is a fear of making an error. That is what has caused the big teams like Bath, Wasps, Harlequins and Saracens to be stuck at the bottom of the table."
"Teams come up thinking they can beat us but when they get off the bus they're already a few points down," agrees Moody.
The Tigers have also benefited from always having owned a relatively large stadium. They also have the highest average crowds in the Premiership.
For the chief executive Peter Wheeler, however, the roots of Leicester's success go far deeper. "It has a lot to do with the history of the place. The confidence has been built up over the years and it seeps into you. Also, when the whole thing broke professionally, prudent financial housekeeping in earlier years meant we weren't in debt and it bought us time to plan the best way forward."
From Chalkie White, the legendary Tigers coach whose vision and attention to detail guided Leicester to three successive cup titles from 1979 to 1981, to the business expertise of the present chairman Peter Tom, the club has also attracted a stream of loyal servants. Until relatively recently first-team players were still required to serve behind the bar on match days.
"It's the best club in the country and that's not me being biased because I played for them," says the England manager Clive Woodward. "Myself and Andy Robinson [England coach] just wish there were more clubs like them. Their players set incredibly high standards and to a man, when they're involved with England, they're absolute role models.
Playing talent
When the Tigers study their rivals each summer they never feel inferior. "Leicester have got the best players in the competition," says Kafer. "There are a variety of other factors but the biggest thing is they have the best squad. I don't think there's any question about that. Man for man we're the best club in England. You just have to look at the number of caps and Test players we've got. It can be difficult to hang on to really good players and one of the things this club has done well over a number of years is to keep those players together and keep them happy."
They do not pay as much as other clubs but players elect to stay there because of the culture of excellence and the careful recruitment of a bunch of players who are like-minded and want to spend time in each other's company. This allows them to sign strong players at all levels. "We have better players than other teams, not just the internationals but in the high quality of our younger players," adds Healey.
Future planning
Leicester's would-be rivals should brace themselves. The Tigers are hoping to tempt Jonny Wilkinson away from Newcastle after next year's World Cup. The England fly-half has signed only a one-year deal with the Falcons . "I'm sure he's the sort of player they would be interested in," acknowledged Tim Buttimore, a former Tigers player and Wilkinson's agent, this week.
Wheeler is also making contingency plans for what he feels is the inevitable day when Richards and Wells are head-hunted by England. "If they want the best, they will be. Their record speaks for itself. You can't better what they've done together. This is their fourth full season and they're poised to win their fourth Premiership title." By 2005 there is every chance the Tigers will be under the command of Martin Johnson (team manager) and Neil Back (coach). "We'd like to feel there is a role for them at the club and we shall be looking to encourage them down that route over the next couple of years," confirms Wheeler. Those anxious to see Leicester toppled from their perch may have to wait a few years yet.
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