Leicester Tigers make blockbuster £600,000 offer to England fly-half

Tuesday, 25 March 2025 at 14:56

byRugby Rucker

Fin Smith is about to become one of the hottest free agents in the Premiership as his contract with Northampton Saints enters its final year.

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With his value soaring, rivals are circling, and Saints could be left scrambling to keep hold of him, according to Rugby Pass.

England Star on the Rise

The 22-year-old fly-half has impressed on the international stage, earning 12 England caps, and started four of England’s last five Six Nations matches. After beating Marcus Smith to the No.10 shirt, his reputation has grown rapidly, and now top clubs are taking notice.

Premiership Title and Player of the Year

Smith helped Northampton claim the 2024 Premiership title, starting in the win over Bath at Twickenham. On top of that, he was named in the Premiership Rugby Team of the Season and bagged the RPA Players’ Player of the Year award.

With all this success, Smith is undoubtedly due for a pay rise, but Saints might not be able to meet his growing demands with a Lions tour this summer also on the horizon to bolster his already substantial CV.

Leicester Tigers Ready to Pounce

East Midlands rivals Leicester Tigers are eyeing up the young star and preparing a hefty £600,000 offer. They have plans to bring in Welsh fly-half Gareth Anscombe for a short-term deal, but once Smith enters the final year of his contract, they’ll be ready to make their move. The huge sum on offer will put Saints under pressure to keep their rising star.

Saints Facing Financial Struggles

Northampton Saints are dealing with financial difficulties after losing £1.7 million last year. The club has also expressed support for lowering the £6.4 million salary cap, which would make it even harder for them to keep hold of their prize asset. CEO Julia Chapman predicts a smaller loss this year, but it’s still unlikely they can match the offers coming Smith’s way.

“Fly-half Says ‘Nah’ – Four Big Names Out of 2025 Lions Tour

The 2025 British & Irish Lions tour kicks off in Australia on July 19, with a three-Test series against the Wallabies. Andy Farrell’s squad will be without several big names due to injury, retirement, or club commitments.

1. Ollie Lawrence – Achilles injury ends Lions dream

England centre Ollie Lawrence was widely tipped to make Farrell’s Lions squad before suffering a devastating injury. The Bath star ruptured his left Achilles tendon just nine minutes into England’s 47-24 Six Nations win over Italy, ruling him out for up to a year.

A Premiership Player of the Season in 2023, Lawrence had become a key figure for Steve Borthwick’s England. His explosive running, defensive solidity, and hard-carrying ability made him a strong candidate for the tour. However, with the Lions series beginning in just over three months, his injury has ended any chance of selection.

Lawrence expressed his disappointment on social media: "Lost for words… That’s not how I imagined my season to end! The comeback is always greater than the setback."

Surprise Fact: Lawrence was once in Aston Villa’s football academy before choosing rugby.

2. Dan Biggar – No third Lions tour

Welsh fly-half Dan Biggar ruled himself out of the 2025 Lions tour after retiring from international rugby in 2023. With 112 caps for Wales and two previous Lions tours (2017, 2021), he would have been a strong contender for Farrell’s squad. However, he’s enjoying his time in France with Toulon and has no plans to return.

Speaking to TalkSport, Biggar confirmed his decision: "That chapter has closed for me. When I retired from Wales, I thought I might miss it, but I haven’t. I’m really enjoying life in France and the media work I’m doing. If I had stepped away from Wales and missed it, things might have been different. But I feel it was the right time to move on."

Biggar remains a key player for Toulon, where his leadership and tactical kicking continue to impress.

Surprise Fact: Biggar’s pre-kick routine, the ‘Biggar Shuffle,’ was inspired by Elvis Presley.

3. Zach Mercer – Injury and club switch

England No. 8 Zach Mercer will miss the Lions tour after being ruled out for the season with a knee injury. Gloucester confirmed in December that Mercer, who had an outside shot at selection despite being overlooked by England, won’t return this season.

Once named Top 14 Player of the Year with Montpellier, Mercer returned to England in 2023 to chase a World Cup spot but was ignored by Steve Borthwick. Now, Toulon are prepared to buy out his Gloucester contract, meaning Mercer could soon be back in French rugby.

Despite his injury, Mercer was voted Gloucester’s Player of the Year in his debut season, proving his popularity with fans.

Surprise Fact: Mercer captained England U20s to victory in the 2017 World Rugby U20 Championship, beating New Zealand in the semi-finals.

4. Joe Marler – Retirement closes Lions chapter

Veteran prop Joe Marler was a bookies’ favourite to make the 2025 Lions tour, but his international retirement has ended any hopes of a call-up. The 90-cap England loosehead announced his Test retirement after the 2024 Six Nations, confirming he won’t be available for selection.

A dominant scrummager and larger-than-life character, Marler was part of England’s 2019 Rugby World Cup final squad and remained in contention for Steve Borthwick’s team until recently. After missing out on the 2017 and 2021 Lions tours, this was likely his last chance to wear the famous red jersey.

Despite his absence, Marler remains a key figure at Harlequins, where his experience and set-piece prowess continue to be invaluable.

Surprise Fact: Marler once dyed his hair bright blue to raise awareness for mental health charities, showing his commitment to supporting mental well-being in rugby.