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Loffreda talk increases Tigers speculation

Thursday 08th February 2007

In control: Marcelo Loffreda could soon be pointing the way for the Tigers

Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda had confessed he would look carefully at an offer from Leicester Tigers, and that he hass already talked about taking on the Head Coach's job at Welford Road.

Loffreda's Pumas side takes on Leicester in a World Cup warm-up match on Sunday, and afterwards, Loffreda will meet Leicester's head of operations, Simon Cohen.

"At the moment, there is only some interest," he said to local reporters.

"We are just having small talks. They told me they are interested in me, but also in other coaches.

"We have had only one chat, on Tuesday, and they explained what it was all about. I will have to think about it. I don't have an offer yet.

"If I receive an offer, and it's a good one, I could think about it very seriously, but I have many things in Argentina and I will have to speak to my family.

"We are going to have another meeting, and then I will go back to my country and have a bit of time to think about it.

"But we have to have patience as well. I am only focusing on the Pumas and we are looking forward to the World Cup.

"I don't want to think about anything but that - it's very important for Argentina to have a good World Cup."

Loffreda would appear to be the prime candidate for the role, with South Africa coach Jake White having ruled himself out recently.

Current Leicester coach Pat Howard wil return to Australia in June, but Loffreda would not be able to start at Leicester until after the Rugby World Cup in September and October - Richard Cockerill would probably take on a caretaker role until Loffreda was ready, if Loffreda was appoited.

Les Cusworth, the former Tigers and England fly-half, gave Loffreda a glowing reference, having worked with him for several years as Argentina's Director of Rugby.

"His results over the last seven years ... well, you know what two and two makes," he said.

"He's a good coach and a very principled man. Very straight.

"He is one of the longest-serving international coaches and, under him, we have beaten France four times out of the last five times we have played them. He is very thorough."