Three Tigers stars sign new deals
YOUNGS, FORD AND GENGE STAYING AFTER BIG NAME DEPARTURES
ENGLAND internationals Ben Youngs, George Ford and Ellis Genge are the latest players to agree new terms with Leicester Tigers, writes Ian Parker of PA Sport.
The club announced yesterday that Youngs and Ford have agreed “long-term” deals to stay at Welford Road, while also confirming new contracts for both Genge and South African centre Jaco Taute.
In total, the Tigers have announced 18 new player contracts since the weekend, having seen Manu Tuilagi, Telusa Veainu, Noel Reid, Greg Bateman and Kyle Eastmond all leave last week after refusing to sign new deals on reduced terms.
Jordan Taufua is also expected to quit the club.
Their exits have come with the 10-times English league champions second from bottom in the Premiership and seeking to negotiate pay cuts following financial losses as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the impact of future salarycap reductions.
Players unwilling to agree to the pay cuts were told they could leave the club last week, and the exodus coincided with Steve Borthwick’s first day as Tigers head coach.
Youngs is England’s most capped scrum-half, having appeared in 99 Tests.
The 30-year-old has made 244 appearances for Leicester since making his debut as a teenager in 2007.
Tigers director of rugby Geordan Murphy said: “It’s pleasing to see Ben commit to the club long-term.
“He is, and has been since very early on in his career, one of the world’s best in his position and to have Ben commit to our plan and vision here in Leicester is exciting for everyone in the Tigers Family.
“Ben loves Leicester Tigers and, like all of us at this club, wants to see it get back to where it belongs.
“He knows there is a tough journey ahead which will take a lot of hard work, on and off the pitch, and has expressed throughout this process that he is committed to whatever it takes.
“On top of what we’ve asked of him, Ben is equally as committed to playing a senior role in this club and mentoring the next generation of players in not only his position but across the senior, development and academy squads.”
Fly-half Ford, 27 made his debut for Leicester at the age of 16 and has made 90 appearances for the Tigers either side of a four-year spell with Bath.
“George is one of the world’s best and to have him extend his contract, showing a belief in what we are building here and the vision we have for Leicester Tigers, is exciting,” Murphy said.
Loosehead prop Genge, 25, is believed to have extended his deal by a year after being linked with a return to his former club Bristol.
He made his Leicester debut in 2016 and has 70 first-team appearances along with six England caps.
Murphy said: “Ellis is a unique individual who we love having at Leicester Tigers.
“I said in January, when he last resigned, that what most excites me about Ellis is that he still has so much left to do in the game and so much growth in him as a player. If he continues on the path he is on, with mentors like Boris Stankovich, Brett Deacon and now Steve Borthwick here in Leicester, it’s exciting to think about what we will get to see Ellis do in a Tigers shirt.”
Springboks star Taute, 29, joined Tigers from Munster last summer and has made seven appearances so far this season.
The England trio and Taute follow 14 others in confirming new deals since the weekend, with contracts for Hanro Leibenberg, Nephi Leatigaga, Facundo Gigena and Harry Wells announced on Tuesday.