"Total rebuild" - Leicester Tigers make 11 new signings following Steve Borthwick exit
Rugby NewsThursday, 06 July 2023 at 06:54
Leicester Tigers have confirmed 11 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.
#7. Joe Powell from London Irish
The 29-year-old makes the move to the East Midlands after a season with London Irish, who he joined after eight years of Super Rugby.
Born in Canberra, the scrum-half made his senior rugby debut for the Canberra Vikings in Australia’s National Rugby Championship before stepping up to professional rugby with his Super Rugby debut in 2015 for the Brumbies, where he played for Leicester Tigers Head Coach Dan McKellar.
After previously representing Australia at Under-20 age-grade level, Powell’s senior Test debut came in 2017 against Fiji.
Benhard van Rensburg of London Irish races through before passing to Joe Powell of London Irish to score during the Gallagher Premiership match between London Irish and Leicester Tigers at The Gtech Community Stadium, London on 25 February 2023 (Photo: Danny Loo/PPAUK)
Powell started in the Brumbies 2020 Super Rugby AU Final victory over The Queensland Reds ahead of moving to the Melbourne Rebels for two seasons before joining the Gallagher Premiership with The Exiles in 2022.
Speaking about the signing, Leicester Tigers Head Coach Dan McKellar said: “Joe is an experienced scrum-half who has played at the highest level in the game and I am really excited about having him join us at Leicester Tigers.”
“I have spoken openly about the type of players we want at Tigers, the type of character I want in the group and a young man of Joe’s qualities on and off the pitch fit well and truly within that.”
“It’s no secret we are likely to be without Jack [van Poortvliet] and Ben [Youngs] during the World Cup, so certainly in need of depth at scrum-half and I am pleased we have been able to add that with the quality of Joe.”
#8. Matt Rogerson from London Irish
The back-rower makes the move to Tigers from London Irish, who he made more than 100 appearances for during five seasons - including the final two as club captain.
Born in Lancaster, he played his youth rugby with Vale of Lune before attending Loughborough University, where he represented Loughborough Students.
Rogerson made his professional debut for Sale Sharks and spent two seasons in the North West of England before a lone campaign in The Championship with Jersey Reds for the 2017/18 campaign ahead of joining The Exiles.
Speaking about the signing, Leicester Tigers Head Coach Dan McKellar said: “It is great to be welcoming a player of Matt’s experience and character to Leicester Tigers.”
“He is a tried and tested player in the Premiership and adds important depth and competition to our back row ranks.”
Matt Rogerson, Captain of London Irish during the Gallagher Premiership match between London Irish and Leicester Tigers at The Gtech Community Stadium, London on 25 February 2023 (Photo: Danny Loo/PPAUK)
“You don’t play a century of games in this league without a certain level of toughness and commitment, as well as plenty of talent, and Matt has shown that over a number of years now.”
“His class and character has shone through in recent time, when captain of London Irish, to lead his playing group through such a tumultuous period and it is that type of person we want representing Leicester Tigers.”
#9. Kieran Wilkinson from Sale Sharks
The 23-year-old fly-half joins Tigers from Sale Sharks
Wilkinson rose through the Sale ranks while attending Kirkham Grammar School in Lancashire, who boast an impressive alumni list including former Leicester Tigers player and Head Coach Richard Wigglesworth.
During a decorated age-grade career, he represented England at Under-16, Under-18 and Under-20s, with the latter seeing him feature alongside now club mates Nic Dolly, Ollie Hassell-Collins and Joe Heyes in the 2018/19 England Under-20s squad.
Wilkinson made 22 appearances for Sale in all competitions since his senior debut in 2018.
Speaking about the signing, Leicester Tigers Head Coach Dan McKellar said: “It is great to be able to confirm Kieran’s signing with the club from next season, which will see him boost our fly-half ranks alongside Charlie Atkinson and Handrè Pollard.”
“While still very much a young man, Kieran has already got a great amount of senior experience in the English game and is a player with potential.”
“We are confident that he will be able to take his game to the next level as part of Leicester Tigers and looking forward to helping him continue to develop his game.”
#10. Sam Carter from Ulster
The 33-year-old forward, who plays at lock and in the back-row, will join Tigers from Ulster Rugby.
Carter was born in Tamworth, Australia, and represented Sydney University before signing his first professional rugby contract with the ACT Brumbies in 2010.
He made his Super Rugby debut in 2011 and went on to make more than 120 appearances for the Canberra-based side during the next nine seasons, including the last two as captain.
In 2014, Carter made his Test debut for the Wallabies and joined a unique group of father and sons to have represented the Australian national rugby union side.
He moved to Ulster ahead of the 2019/20 northern hemisphere season and, has since, made 58 appearances for the Irish club including captaining the Belfast-based side.
Incoming Leicester Tigers Head Coach Dan McKellar added: “Sam is a great addition to our forward pack from next season and a player who has a wealth of experience in the game in both the southern and northern hemisphere, as well as having played Test rugby.”
“He is an outstanding line out caller, who enjoys the hard work and his signing provides us with strong depth in the second row.
“In addition to what Sam gives us on the field, his leadership and character as a person are also huge positives to be bringing into our group, which I am pleased about.”
#11. Mike Williams from Exeter Chiefs
The 31-year-old forward returns to Tigers, where he made more than 80 appearances during four seasons with the club, after stints with Bath Rugby and Exeter Chiefs.
Williams, who is capable of playing at lock and across the back-row, played his junior rugby with The Sharks and Blue Bulls in South Africa before joining Worcester Warriors in 2013.
The Zimbabwean-born forward moved to Leicester in 2015, where his performances in green, red and white earned him selection in the England squad for the 2016 Autumn Internationals.
In the summer of 2019, Williams joined Bath and made 49 appearances for the Somerset club before making a mid-season switch to Exeter during the 2022/23 campaign.
Speaking about the signing, Leicester Tigers Head Coach Dan McKellar said: “We are excited to have Mike back at Leicester Tigers.”
Leicester Tigers player Mike Williams during the Gallagher Premiership Match between Wasps and Leicester Tigers at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry on Sep 16 - PHOTO: Steve Bond/PPAUK
“He is a physical player with a combative approach to the game and enjoys the tough stuff - all the attributes we want in our forwards at this club.
“I am certain our supporters are pleased to see a man of Mike’s character back at the club also. He understands what it means to be able to represent Leicester Tigers, our role in the community and is as passionate as ever about being a part of that again.”
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