Tigers confirm big summer clearout
SEVEN SENIOR STARS AND TWO ACADEMY GRADUATES TO LEAVE ENGLISH CHAMPIONS AS BORTHWICK REBUILDS HIS SQUAD
LEICESTER Tigers have confirmed that seven senior squad players and two academy graduates will leave the club this summer.
The departures of captain Ellis Genge to Bristol Bears and fly-half George Ford to Sale Sharks had already been announced.
Also leaving Welford Road will be Argentine pair Matías Moroni and Juan Pablo Socino, South African back-rower Marco van Staden and fellow Springbok Jaco Taute, and Sam Aspland-Robinson, along with Jonny Law and Jack Rowntree from the academy.
Tigers have agreed terms with van Staden which will see him return to South Africa to continue his injury rehabilitation.
The 26-year-old made eight appearances in his one season at the club after arriving during the opening months of the 2021/22 campaign following Test appearances for South Africa in the 2021 Rugby Championship.
Van Staden said: “It has been a short but unforgettable time at Leicester Tigers.
“It was an honour and a privilege representing this club and being part of this special group.
“I want to thank every coach, staff member and player for making my time here worth every second and making life long friends in a short time.
“To the Tigers supporters, thank you for giving the best and most dedicated support I have ever experienced.”
Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick said: “Marco’s time with us has, unfortunately, been cut short by injury but his contribution to Leicester Tigers during this stage of our journey in a short space of time will not be forgotten.
“He has made a great contribution to Leicester Tigers and been a pleasure to coach, work with and learn from in his time at the club.
“On behalf of everyone at the club, I thank Marco – and his wife Chanel – for their part in our success this season and wish them well for their next chapter together.”
In two stints at Tigers, Ford made 129 appearances and scored 1,256 points featuring in two Premiership title winning campaigns.
Genge, who initially made the move to Leicester on loan during the 2015/16 campaign, leaves after making 111 appearances and having captained the club to the Gallagher Premiership title.
Centre Moroni, who joined Tigers ahead of the 2020/21 season, made 36 appearances since debuting in a European Challenge Cup victory over Brive at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in December 2020 and he will join Newcastle Falcons next season.
Socino, who joined from Saracens at the beginning of the current campaign, leaves Leicester having made nine appearances in his one season at the club.
Taute, who moved from Munster to Leicester ahead of the 2019/20 season, made 19 appearances in three seasons at the club.
Centre/wing Aspland-Robinson, who spent this season on loan with Championship club Coventry Rugby, made 14 appearances in four seasons at the club.
Both Law and Rowntree have spent the past two seasons as part of the club’s senior academy programme and had loan spells with Loughborough
University during their time at the club. Law, who made his senior debut while still a member of the academy programme in 2019, has made five appearances for Tigers.
The scrum-half has signed for Championship club Jersey Reds for next season.
Rowntree, who was an Under-18 League winner with Tigers, did not make a senior appearance during his time in the Senior Academy.
Meanwhile, flanker Olly Robinson’s loan spell with the club has come to an end and back-rower Tomiwa Agbongbon’s short-term contract has concluded.
Robinson made seven appearances for the club after arriving in January and Agbongbon made five appearances each of this season’s Premiership Cup fixtures - after joining mid-season from Loughborough University.
Speaking about the departing players, Borthwick, above, said: “They have all played a part in this early stage of our journey at the club and I am grateful for the hard work and effort they have put in to carry us forward.
“It has been a privilege to have had the opportunity to work with and learn from all of these players.”
During the season, the club agreed early releases with three players - Cyle Brink, Dan Lancaster and Kobus van Wyk - as well as seeing long-serving Tigers player and former captain, Tom Youngs, retire from professional rugby in April.
Brink made 19 appearances for Tigers after debuting in November 2020, having joined from South Africa’s Bulls.
Lancaster (five appearances) and Kobus van Wyk (18 appearances) were
granted early releases to explore opportunities elsewhere.
Tom Youngs made 215 appearances for Leicester, as well as gaining 28 Test caps for England and three for the British & Irish Lions.
A Premiership winner in 2012/13 and Anglo-Welsh Cup winner in 2016/17 with Tigers, Youngs retired in second place on the club’s all-time list for appearances as captain with 98 behind Martin Johnson.