THE LAST WORD

LEICESTER supporters were understandably aggrieved to see Ellis Genge hugging Pat Lam in a video released to mark his signing for Bristol. It was ill-judged. The Tigers captain should not have agreed to take part in any such promotional activity — as he quickly realised. But anyone in the East Midlands who thinks he is already halfway out the door do not understand the character of the man. He will be driven to bring a major trophy to Leicester, before he returns to his home city. Genge is destined to lead the Tigers at Ashton Gate on Boxing Day and he will give body and soul against his future team-mates. His impending move is another sign of more fluidity in the transfer market as players seek fair deals while clubs cut their budgets. The reduction in the salary cap is starting to bite and the doomsday scenario is that large numbers of players could find themselves out of work. More could head across the Channel and there is an argument that the RFU should relax the restriction on players based abroad being picked for England. It will not happen though.