Three more Springboks are set to join Tigers’ ranks
FOUR NEW SIGNINGS AND NEW DEALS FOR SIX CURRENT PLAYERS AS BORTHWICK CONTINUES REBUILDING HIS SQUAD
LEICESTER Tigers have signed four new players and announced the resigning of six members of their squad.
The South African contingent at the Mattioli Woods Welford Road is set to reach eight as Eli Snyman, Marco van Staden and Francois van Wyk join current squad members Jasper Wiese, Hanro Liebenberg and Cyle Brink, Jaco Taute and Kobus Van Wyk next season.
Here’s the rundown of all the squad news, starting with the signings...
Eli Snyman, 24, second row
The 24-year-old, 6ft 7in and 17-stone forward will join Tigers in the summer from Benetton Rugby.
The former Springboks Under-20s forward played Super Rugby for the Blues before heading to Italy.
Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick said: “He is a big, powerful and tough forward, with experience in both southern and northern hemisphere rugby, who will be a valuable addition to our pack at Tigers.”
Marco van Staden, 25, flanker
The Springboks flanker will join Tigers ahead of the 2021/22 season from Super Rugby side The Bulls.
Van Staden starred for them in their recent Super Rugby Unlocked and Currie Cup competition-winning campaigns.
Borthwick said: “He is a tough, hard-working, competitive player who we are confident will add to what we are building here at Leicester Tigers.”
Francois van Wyk, 29, loosehead prop
The 29-year-old joins from Northampton Saints, where he has spent the last four seasons, ahead of the 2021/22 season.
Borthwick said: “Francois has played top-flight rugby in both hemispheres and will add vital depth to our front row ranks at Tigers from next season.”
Darryl Marfo, 30, loosehead prop
The Scotland international arrives on a short-term contract. Most recently represented Edinburgh, and has spent time at fellow Premiership clubs Harlequins and Bath.
Borthwick said: “He is an international player who has experience in the Premiership and adds depth to our squad in the loosehead position.”
The following list of players have all agreed new deals at Tigers.
Dan Cole, 33, tighthead prop
The 33-year-old has made 253 senior appearances for the club since debuting in 2007 after graduating from the Tigers Academy.
Cole has made 98 Test appearances, including 95 for England, and averaged more than 20 games per season for Leicester since his first full season in the senior team.
Borthwick said: “He has been an integral member of the Tigers pack for almost 15 seasons and continues to set the standard every day with his work ethic and professionalism.”
Nemani Nadolo, 33, winger
The Fijian winger has missed Tigers’ last four games due to injury but started life at Leicester well, scoring five tries in nine appearances after joining last summer.
Recently made his return to the
Fiji set-up too, scoring a hat-trick against Georgia.
Borthwick said: “Nemani is an experienced, world-class winger who has shown what he is capable of in both attack and defence in his short time at the club so far last season and in the opening weeks of the current campaign.”
Jasper Wiese, 25, number eight
Joined from South African side The Cheetahs and has made eight appearances, scoring three tries for the Tigers so far.
The 25-year-old is currently serving a ban for a red card awarded against Wasps.
Borthwick said: “Jasper is a fine young man, who we are very pleased to have agreed a new deal with and look forward to what he will continue to bring to Tigers in the future.”
Ollie Chessum, 20, lock/back row
Scored his first Leicester Tigers try against London Irish on Friday night in his fifth senior appearance.
Capable of playing at lock or in the back row, Chessum joined Tigers in the summer of 2020 from Championship club Nottingham Rugby.
Borthwick said: “Ollie is a hardworking player and passionate Tigers clubman, who I am excited about working with and seeing develop in the years to come as a member of the Leicester pack”
James Whitcombe, 20, loosehead prop
The young prop has been regularly mentioned by Borthwick in media sessions, having recently made both his Premiership and European competition debuts.
He is another Tigers Academy graduate who has progressed through to the senior ranks. Borthwick said: “He is a promising young front-rower who is very diligent in his work and I am confident he will continue to improve if he keeps up the level of professionalism he has shown since stepping up from the Tigers Academy.”
Dan Kelly, 19, centre/outside back
Teenager Kelly is another Borthwick appears to be very impressed with and already has eight senior appearances for Tigers under his belt after debuting during the recommenced 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership season.
Borthwick said: “It is a great reward for his efforts and we are excited to have secured Dan for the future, as he represents the qualities and character of players and young men we want as part of the Tigers squad.”