PREMIERSHIP Leicester have made a change in their Rising Star position by dropping Dan Gilkes (pictured) in favour of a recall for Joe Thompson.
Thompson deputised for Gilkes at the beginning of the season when the former Poole rider requested more time to get back to full fitness following the knee injury which curtailed his 2025 campaign. Gilkes returned to the Lions' ranks on May 4 and has also signed for Championship Scunthorpe after being released by Poole but now finds himself on the topo flight sidelines once again. Leicester team manager Stewart Dickson said: “There’s no lack of ability with Dan but I do feel there’s a lack of confidence at the moment, and unfortunately the Premiership season is too short to allow it to run away from us. “I want to make it clear, though, that he is not being made a scapegoat for (Thursday’s) defeat at Northampton. That was a collective night of falls, errors and mechanical issues across the team, and I am watching one or two other riders where we do have fitness concerns. “I very much appreciate Joe agreeing to come back in because he could have taken umbrage after doing very well, only for us to bring Dan back, as we honoured the agreements we had previously made. “I think it speaks volumes of Joe that there were no gripes or ill-will, he agreed straight away as I expected him to, and I do think I’ve been pretty up-front and straight with both riders throughout.”
