Leicester Tigers have agreed new terms with five of the club's brightest young talents.
Academy products Andy Forsyth, Ryan Bower, Jonny Harris, Alex Lewington and Jimmy Stevens have all agreed new contracts beyond the end of the current season.
All five have come through the Tigers Academy and gained first-team experience this season.
Centre Forsyth, 21, played in the LV= Cup Final and scored his first senior try in the vital win away to Harlequins which helped secure a place in the knockout stages of the Anglo-Welsh tournament. A former England international at under-16 and under-18 level, he is now approaching 20 senior appearances for the club.
Lewington, 20, also scored a try in the victory at Quins and produced some eye-catching form on the wing during the LV= Cup run, while 21-year-old hooker Stevens made his first senior start for the club this season and experienced Heineken Cup rugby with a run from the bench in the home win against Aironi.
Front-rowers Bower and Harris, both aged 21, have gained experience with the senior squad this season in the company of international props including Dan Cole, Marcos Ayerza and Martin Castrogiovanni.
Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill said: “This club has an impressive record of bringing players through from the Academy system and nurturing their talents so they are prepared to play at the top level.
“We need good depth to our squad in a long and tough season, and whatever we achieve is down to the contributions of every member of the squad, from these youngest guys right through to the senior internationals.
“I look forward to seeing their continued development as players and we know they are in the perfect environment at Tigers to do that.”
Academy products Andy Forsyth, Ryan Bower, Jonny Harris, Alex Lewington and Jimmy Stevens have all agreed new contracts beyond the end of the current season.
All five have come through the Tigers Academy and gained first-team experience this season.
Centre Forsyth, 21, played in the LV= Cup Final and scored his first senior try in the vital win away to Harlequins which helped secure a place in the knockout stages of the Anglo-Welsh tournament. A former England international at under-16 and under-18 level, he is now approaching 20 senior appearances for the club.
Lewington, 20, also scored a try in the victory at Quins and produced some eye-catching form on the wing during the LV= Cup run, while 21-year-old hooker Stevens made his first senior start for the club this season and experienced Heineken Cup rugby with a run from the bench in the home win against Aironi.
Front-rowers Bower and Harris, both aged 21, have gained experience with the senior squad this season in the company of international props including Dan Cole, Marcos Ayerza and Martin Castrogiovanni.
Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill said: “This club has an impressive record of bringing players through from the Academy system and nurturing their talents so they are prepared to play at the top level.
“We need good depth to our squad in a long and tough season, and whatever we achieve is down to the contributions of every member of the squad, from these youngest guys right through to the senior internationals.
“I look forward to seeing their continued development as players and we know they are in the perfect environment at Tigers to do that.”
