Hooker Clare agrees new deal to stay at Welford Road

LEICESTER Tigers have agreed a new contract with hooker Charlie Clare, writes Bobby Bridge.

The front-rower, above, in his second stint with the club, returned to Tigers ahead of the 2019/20 season after spells with Nottingham, Jersey, Bedford and Northampton Saints.

The Norwich-born forward graduated from the Tigers Academy in 2011 after achieving age-group honours for England.

The 29-year-old has made 23 senior appearances since his debut in the opening round of the 2019/20 Premiership Rugby Cup.

Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick, right, said: “Charlie is a player who is extremely passionate about Leicester Tigers and I am very pleased to see him re-sign with the club.

“He is a Tigers Academy graduate and is an important member of our group to carry the club forward into the future.

“Charlie is a hard-working, tough player who demonstrates the characteristics Tigers supporters expect of the players who represent Leicester and he is committed to the journey we are on at the club.

“We want healthy competition for places in this

Tigers squad and the re-signing of Charlie helps to continue that in our front-row ranks moving forward.” Discussing his new deal with the club, Clare said: “The mood in the stables at the moment is such a good one and there is such a good feeling at the club. “The growth the team has made in a short period, the past six months or so since Steve arrived, has been really rewarding.

“We are still so far away from where we want to be, but there is something building at the club and it’s great to be a part of, so it was an easy decision for me.”

Clare joins fellow forwards Dan Cole, Jasper Wiese, Ollie Chessum and James Whitcombe as well as backs Nemani Nadolo and Dan Kelly in agreeing new deals with the club.