Full-back Steward ‘fails to agree contract extension’

FREDDIE Steward has reportedly failed to agree terms on a contract extension with Leicester Tigers, writes Bobby Bridge.

The 21-year-old was at the heart of Tigers’ Gallagher Premiership title victory and ended the season by starting all three of England’s Tests in the series win over Australia.

But the day after his try in the 21-17 victory in Sydney, the towering full-back’s future was brought into question by The Rugby Paper.

The publication wrote that Steward could take “advantage of a break clause in his contract in a similar fashion to Ellis Genge and George Ford” who have joined Bristol Bears and Sale Sharks respectively this summer.

Steward, who has 13 senior England caps after earning his debut against the USA a year ago, was named as the Rugby Players’

Association’s Young Player of the Year and England Men’s Player of the Year in May.

The Rugby Paper said it understands that Tigers have “failed to agree terms on an extension” to Steward’s contract.

It would be a bitter blow for Tigers to lose a player of Steward’s calibre, having played such a key part in the club’s resurgence, rising from second bottom of the table to champions of England in two seasons. Steward will have fresh competition for the 15 shirt in 2022/23 when versatile back-three player and fellow England international Anthony Watson joins from Bath.

However, one would imagine that the club will move heaven and earth to keep Steward at Mattioli Woods Welford Road for years to come.

Freddie is a grounded and humble young man who loves playing for the Tigers.

His stock has risen exponentially in the past 12 months after establishing himself as one of the best in the world at full-back, so his next contract will have to reflect that.

It would be extremely surprising to see Steward move away from Leicestershire any time soon, even with the pressures of the salary cap complicating retaining star talent that emerges through the ranks.