Bristol won’t get claws on Tiger Ben
LEICESTER have rejected speculation big-spending Bristol are about to poach Ben Youngs and expressed their desire to keep the England scrum-half at Welford Road for the rest of his career.
Youngs, 28, who has 73 caps for his country, is out of contract at the end of the season and has been linked with a move to the unbeaten Championship leaders.
They have deep pockets thanks to the backing of millionaire owner Steve Lansdown and have already signed up Ulster full-back Charles Piutau for next season on a salary of £950,000.
However, Leicester head coach Matt O’Connor announced yesterday that Youngs is going nowhere.
“He won’t be at Bristol,” said O’Connor. “We have had several conversations with Benny and his intent is to be at the Tigers.
“We’d be devastated if he left but all the indicators are that he will be here next year and hopefully play out his career here.”
Leicester are likely to announce a contract extension for Youngs stretching beyond the next World Cup in the coming weeks and they could be about to add further to their backline riches with the signature of Argentina’s Santiago Cordero.
The 24-year-old, who can play at wing or full-back, is leaving the Buenos Aires-based Jaguares and eyeing a move to Europe.
“He’s a quality player who we think would add a lot to the group,” said O’Connor. “We’ve had a conversation with him around that but it’s nowhere near a certainty.”
Cordero would be an exciting addition but Leicester’s priority should really be the recruitment of extra forward ball carriers after been found wanting in that department.
“We’re probably a bit underpowered in the forwards at the moment and I think we need to address that. We probably need a bit more bulk,” said O’Connor.
“The front rowers are exceptional – as good as anywhere in Europe – but behind that we probably need a bit more depth.
“I think we’re a better squad than last season – we are set up better to win big games – but this season has been nowhere near good enough with the expectation that goes with the Tigers. “There’s a lot of good conversations going on at the moment and by the time we get to September we’ll have a squad capable of competing at the top table in the Premiership and Europe.”
Wales have been dealt another back-row blow with Dan Lydiate ruled out for the rest of the season with a biceps injury.
The luckless Lydiate, who has played only 10 games for the Ospreys in two years, joins Sam Warburton, Taulupe Faletau and Ross Moriarty on the injured list with the Six Nations approaching.
Moriarty’s Gloucester team-mate Jake Polledri has been called into Italy’s squad for the first time.
Polledri, 22, who was born in Bristol but played for Italy at junior level, was named in a 34-man squad yesterday ahead of the Six Nations meeting with England in Rome on February 4.
We’d be devastated if he left