Tigers Players to Sleep Under the Stars at Leicester HQ

Leicester Tigers players and staff will spend a night sleeping outdoors at the club’s Mattioli Woods Welford Road stadium on March 28th, 2026, to raise funds for Leicestershire-based charity, Shelter Central.

The event, dubbed “Big Sleep,” aims to highlight the issue of homelessness and support Shelter Central’s work providing advice and assistance to those facing housing insecurity. Participants will sleep under the stars in the stadium’s concourse, foregoing the comforts of their homes for a single night.

Leicester Tigers CEO Andrea Pinchen stated the club is “proud to support Shelter Central and raise awareness of the important work they do in our community.”

Shelter Central provides a range of services, including housing advice, legal support, and emergency accommodation. The charity has seen an increase in demand for its services in recent years, driven by factors such as rising housing costs and economic uncertainty.

The Tigers’ initiative follows similar fundraising efforts by other sporting organizations across the United Kingdom. The club, founded in 1880, currently competes in the Gallagher PREM, England’s top division of rugby union. They finished second in the 2024-25 season and are preparing to compete in the 2025-26 European Rugby Champions Cup. The team plays its home matches at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, which has a capacity of 25,849.

Geoff Parling is the current head coach, having joined the club for the 2025-26 season. The Tigers have won 22 major titles, including two European Champions Cups in 2001 and 2002, and a record 11 English Championships. They most recently won the PREM Rugby Cup in 2026 and the Premiership Rugby title in 2022.

Europcar, a club partner, recently extended its partnership with Leicester Tigers, according to a LinkedIn post from the club.

Donations to the “Big Sleep” fundraiser can be made through the Leicester Tigers website.