"Total rebuild" - Leicester confirm new signings, including Anthony Watson replacement
Rugby NewsThursday, 25 May 2023 at 14:06
Leicester Tigers have confirmed six new signings ahead of the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership season.
#1. Solomone Kata from Exeter Chiefs
Leicester has secured the signing of Kata, who will be departing Exeter after just one season once his contract expires next month.
Kata, a 28-year-old Tongan international capable of playing as a center or wing, joined Exeter as Rob Baxter’s fifth signing last season.
During his time with the Chiefs, he made 20 appearances and scored five tries, one of which came during his debut against the Tigers in September.
According to The Rugby Paper, Kata will be the 14th player leaving the Chiefs this summer and will become the sixth new addition to the Leicester squad.
Born in Neiafu, Tonga, Kata relocated to New Zealand in 2011 to pursue a rugby scholarship at Sacred Heart College in Auckland. His exceptional abilities quickly caught the attention of rugby league teams, leading him to play for the New Zealand Warriors and later the Melbourne Storm, before transitioning to the 15-man code.
Kata’s journey then took him to Canberra in Australia, where he spent two seasons with the Brumbies, forming a partnership with former Chief Nic White. In 2022, he joined Moana Pasifika for the Super Rugby competition.
Exeter Chiefs player Solomone Kata before the Gallagher Premiership rugby game between Leicester Tigers and Exeter Chiefs at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on April 16th- PHOTO: Steve Bond/PPAUK
#2. Josh Bassett from Harelquins
The 30-year-old will join Tigers from Harlequins, who he joined midway through the current campaign from Wasps.
Bassett played his junior rugby for Ampthill before moving to Bedford Blues ahead of the 2011/12 campaign. The outside-back was selected for England Under-20s in 2012.
In 2013, he joined Wasps and made more than a century of appearances for the club before joining Harlequins in 2022.
Bassett said:
“I want to continue developing, individually, and reach my potential. I see Leicester Tigers as the place to do that.
“Mattioli Woods Welford Road is a special place. You know it is going to be loud, the atmosphere is going to be electric and so the opportunity to be on the right side of that was a hard one to turn down.
“There are some amazing players at the club, who have done so well in recent years and are going to continue pushing on. Knowing I will be a part of that gives me energy and makes me excited.”
Wigglesworth said:
“We are really looking forward to welcoming Josh to Leicester Tigers next season.”
“He is a prolific try-scorer, hard-working player who offers plenty in defence out wide. He adds great competition to our outside-backs.
“Josh is a highly respected player and experienced in the game, which will be of great value to our young group.”
#3. Jamie Shillcock from Mitsubishi DynaBoars
Shillcock previously played for Worcester Warriors and spent a short stint with Bath Rugby and has represented England at age-grade level.
The versatile back made his senior debut for Worcester as a 17-year-old in 2015 and made almost a century of appearances for the club before joining Bath.
Shillcock said:
“When I first spoke to the club and they laid out the plans and where they thought I fit in them, it was just too good a chance to turn down.”
“I think the first game I ever watched live was a Leicester Tigers game and even attended their Rugby Camps when I was a kid, so it’s a club I have always had a connection to and when the opportunity came, it was just one I couldn’t say no to.
“It’s exciting for me that I will be able to be a part of what the club is doing in bringing through a really good core group of players and it’s something that I can’t wait to get on board with.”
#4. Kyle Hatherell from La Rochelle
Hatherell was born in South Africa and played his age-grade rugby for The Sharks in Durban before playing for Scottish club Marr RFC ahead of joining Jersey Reds in 2018.
The versatile forward, capable of playing in at lock and in the back-row, spent three seasons in Jersey before joining Worcester ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.
Hatherell said:
“I am absolutely delighted to be signing for Leicester Tigers. It is a club that I have always admired.”
“Having played at Mattioli Woods Welford Road and witnessed how passionate the crowd are, I can’t wait to show the Leicester fans how it will mean to me to put on the jersey.”
#5. Finn Theobald-Thomas from Gloucester
Theobald-Thomas played academy rugby for Worcester, who he made his senior debut for in a Premiership Rugby Cup fixture in 2021.
The hooker represented England at age-grade levels and was selected in the England Under-20s squad ahead of the 2023 Under-20s Six Nations.
Theobald-Thomas said:
“I think the way Leicester Tigers play suits me and think I can get the best out of myself at the club.”
“There is a really good group of young lads coming through and there is an opportunity there to be a part of that.
“The idea of going down those steps on the terrace, wearing the Tigers jersey, has been something I have definitely thought about and excites me.”
#6. Ollie Hassell-Collins from London Irish
Hassell-Collins has represented England at age-grade levels, Sevens and made his Test debut during this season’s Guinness Six Nations.
After graduating from The Exiles Academy, the outside-back has become a prolific try-scorer for the London club since his senior debut in 2018.
Hassell-Collins said:
“It’s the biggest club in England and hard to say no, when they want to come and chat with you. It excites me a lot, being a part of Leicester Tigers.”
“I know some of the guys and am looking forward to being a part of the young group and what is a pretty crazy potential line-up in the backline.
“It’s a hell of a ground, Mattioli Woods Welford Road, and when you think about Leicester Tigers, you think about the stadium and crowd, how hostile it is, and it’s exciting to know I’ll be on the home side of that.”
Ollie Hassell-Collins of England during the England Rugby Captains Run ahead of the Six Nations Match between England and Italy at Twickenham, London on 11 Feb 2023 (Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
Wigglesworth said:
“Ollie is one of the game’s most exciting young wingers and it’s very pleasing that he will be a Leicester Tigers player from next season.”
“He has shown in the short time he’s spent in the senior game that he is capable of scoring tries and is also a physical presence out wide, in attack and defence, that we’re looking forward to having here at the club.
“Ollie deservedly so made his Test debut this season and that experience, especially alongside some of his future Tigers teammates, is fantastic for him and his game development.
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