Nadolo to leave Leicester during season

LEICESTER winger Nemani Nadolo will leave the Premiership champions midway through the season to join the Waratahs in time for the Super Rugby season which kicks off in February.

The Fiji international, 34, has come to a “mutual agreement” with Tigers to be released from his contract halfway through the campaign.

Nadolo scored 10 tries for Tigers last season to finish as the club’s leading scorer.

“On behalf of everybody at the club, I thank him for his contribution,” said Leicester head coach Steve Borthwick. “His decision to return home to Australia is one he has made with his family and one that we – as a club – support him in.”

Fiji-born Nadolo grew up in Australia and near the start of his career played for the Waratahs in Super Rugby. He has also played for the Crusaders, Exeter Chiefs and Bourgoin, and joined Leicester from Montpellier in 2020.

“I’ll forever be grateful to the club for understanding my situation and allowing my family and I to move back to Australia,” Nadolo said.

“There is a lot of rugby to be played from now until I leave and I look forward to making many more memories in the Tigers jersey.”

Meanwhile, Leicester this week announced a trio of new signings.

Hooker Tom Horton, 25, joins on a short-term deal from Australia where he has represented Shute Shield club Sydney University and the Waratahs in Super Rugby.

He is joined by fellow Australian, outside back Lachlan Shelley. Shelley, who is English qualified, arrives from Shute Shield club Eastwood and was a member of the Waratahs Academy.

Former Worcester hooker Joe Taufete’e, 29, has also signed. The USA international returns to the Premiership having since featured for Lyon and LA Giltinis.