Tigers to form ‘performance partnership’ with Nottingham
LEICESTER Tigers have announced a “unique performance partnership” with Championship club Nottingham Rugby.
The agreement includes co-operation on coaching resources, education and programme alignment, training and playing opportunities for players, and pathway integration. Tigers and Nottingham have enjoyed a long-standing informal partnership for decades, with an impressive dual-alumni list of players to have represented both clubs including Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Calum Green, Charlie Clare, Joe Browning and Ollie Chessum. Speaking about the co-operation agreement, Leicester Tigers general manager
Leigh Jones said: “This is an exciting and unique partnership which will see a healthy sharing of knowledge and practices across the clubs, at all levels, to the mutual benefit of Tigers and Nottingham.
“The East Midlands has a proud rugby history and both Leicester Tigers and Nottingham have contributed heavily to it, which can now continue in a more formal, co-ordinated manner moving forward.
“We will be aligning the rugby programmes of Tigers and Nottingham on and off the field in various ways, including the dualregistration of several players to get valuable game-time in this season’s Championship.
“In addition, we’re going to welcome Craig Hammond into the Tigers environment weekly, working in Steve Borthwick’s coaching team and as a crucial link for the pathway programmes at both clubs.
“The agreement is the product of a lot of hard work during the summer months and we are pleased to be kicking it off now ahead of the new season.”
Nottingham Rugby chief operating officer Steve Smith said: “We are pleased to be able to formalise our relationship with Leicester Tigers and continue to support the development of young players coming through the performance pathway structure.
“The coaching team are really looking forward to working with the Tigers players on a regular basis and we look forward to many of these players progressing into the Tigers senior squad in years to come.”