Leicester Tigers wing Adam Radwan admits he is working on his power

Gary Fitzgerald talks to the Leicester Tigers flyer about mixing it with the big boys up front

Adam Radwan is known for his extreme gas and finishing ability but the Leicester wing has been given the green light by his boss to keep “cleaning up” as well as burning up on the field.

And the flyer is more than happy to increase the rough, tough and bruising stuff he has been working on since moving down to Welford Road from Newcastle midway through last season.

New Tigers head coach Geoff Parling, below, is happy for his speedster to mix it with the forwards when he gets a sniff of a potential turnover in the heat of battle.

Radwan has become another of the modern-day backs who simply love to get stuck in at the breakdown areas of the game, where previously the “glory boys” would fear to tread.

Physicality

Radwan is thriving as a ball-hungry Tiger and intends to carry on increasing his physicality and productivity on the field.

He says: “I worked on the breakdown a bit at Falcons and looking at more jackal stuff. If the opportunity is there, I will have a go.

“I’m getting more and more involved in the game and getting my hands on the ball as well as working on the aerial stuff.

“Getting up off the ground and being dominant in the air is now a huge part of the game.

“Leicester is about working hard and the bare minimum of that is that amount of effort and commitment.

“The speed is also down to hard work in the gym. I want to be faster and more powerful.”

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Jackler

And while Parling comes from an era when rucks were just the pack’s hunting ground, he says Radwan has already proved himself a worthy jackler.

Tigers boss Parliing admits: “I wouldn’t expect it to happen that often. And I don’t think every back has that in them to do it.

“But it can be challenging for a team to play against another side which has someone out wide who can act as a cleaner!

“I want and like people to make the big decisions during game…to take that instinctive action which can prove so important.

“As you saw with Radders recently, he made a great one early in the game.

“As long as they practise it in training and back themselves, I’m happy for them to have a go. Radders loves to be involved in the game as much as he can.

“That’s one thing which has impressed since he arrived…not just his speed on the field and tries.

“All the talk is about how much pace. There are lots of tries and it is so important. Pace gets you out of problems at times, as well as provides a real threat to the opposition.

“But I challenged Radders at the start of the season and he has responded so well.

“It’s not what he is doing with the ball but the other stuff. The ability with the high ball is so important now.

“His application has been great and he is in the top four Premiership wings at present.”