Mixing it up holds the key to success under £5 million salary cap
BORTHWICK PRIZES THE ABILITY TO PLAY IN MORE THAN ONE POSITION
“POSITIONAL versatility” is key for Leicester Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick as he reshapes his squad under a shrinking salary cap.
Ahead of the 2021/22 season, the senior ceiling drops from £6.4 million to £5 million, placing increased pressure on clubs to streamline their squads.
Tigers are coping with the tightening of purse strings by recruiting players with the ability to play in more than one position.
Freddie Burns, Bryce Hegarty and Juan Pablo Socino are all heading to Mattioli Woods Welford Road this summer to bolster Tigers’ fly-half options - but all three are capable in other positions across the backline.
“When you look at the context now of the size of the salary cap, the importance of having players who can play multiple positions at a high level, have that versatility within the matchday 23, have that versatility week to week, it’s exceptionally important that you have players who are able to do that,” said Borthwick.
“You see it throughout the squad. We’ve got centres who played 12 and 13. Freddie Steward played on the right wing at the end of the season, Kini Murimurivalu plays wing, fullback and centre, we’ve got multiple players who can play second row and back row. Players who can play across the back row.
“Having positional versatility is an important asset to the players and it helps us as we build a squad.”
Throughout the 2020/21 season, when Tigers finished sixth in the Gallagher Premiership and reached the
Positional versatility is an important asset to players and it helps us as we build a squad
Head coach Steve Borthwick
European Challenge Cup final, many players were deployed in more than one position.
Hanro Liebenberg and Cyle Brink started across all three back-row positions while second row Harry
Wells also showcased his ability from blindside flanker. George Martin also leads a group of young forwards who also have the ability to play in the second and back rows.
In the backs, Pau-bound Zack
Henry split his time between fly-half and fullback while Matt Scott provided Tigers with an option at inside and outside centre. Guy Porter also started games on both wings and at inside centre.
Borthwick added: “If you’re going to use the resources within the salary cap well, then, you need to have some players in your squad who are able to cover multiple positions.”