Leicester Tigers can confirm five of the new signings who will join the club ahead of the 25/26 season under new Head Coach Geoff Parling.
International duo Jamie Blamire and Joaquin Moro, England ‘A’ representative Tarek Haffar and exciting youngsters Charlie Titcombe and Wilf McCarthy are the first additions to be confirmed following the announcement of Parling as incoming Head Coach.
JAMIE BLAMIRE
Blamire, 27, will join from Newcastle Falcons after appearing more than 100 times for the Premiership club and having represented England on seven occasions at Test level.
An age-grade England representative, Blamire rose through the ranks in Newcastle from Falcons Academy before making his Premiership debut in 2019. His Test debut came in 2021 against the USA before, a week later, he scored a hat-trick in his second Test against Canada.
Speaking about joining Leicester Tigers, Blamire said: “Having been in England camps with some of the lads at Leicester Tigers in the past, they have spoke so highly of the environment which I can't wait to be a part of at the club.”
“Obviously having Adam Radwan join mid-season played a part, with him filling me in on everything going on and how much he is enjoying his time at the club.”
On calling Mattioli Woods Welford Road home, Blamire added: “I’m really looking forward to playing at Mattioli Woods Welford Road as a home player. Every time I have played in Leicester, it's been packed out. It's such a tough environment for away teams to come and play so I can't wait to be a part of the home team and feel the support of the fans.”
“The Tigers support is incredible and I know how much that can make the difference in big games.”
On Blamire, General Manager Richard Wilks added: “This is a very exciting signing for the club, which anyone who has seen Jamie play will agree with I’m sure.”
“As a club, we have been fortunate to have had outstanding players and individuals at hooker over the last decade and Jamie continues that trend. As soon as we met with him, we felt he would bring both those attributes and much more to the club.
“He embodies the attributes we look for in a Tigers player; he is tough, honest, and hard working.”
TAREK HAFFAR
Fellow front-rower Tarek Haffar will arrive in the summer, making the short move across the East Midlands from Northampton Saints.
The 23-year-old joins Tigers on the back of a strong season which included selection in the England ‘A’ side, alongside future clubmates Jack van Poortvliet and Ollie Hassell-Collins, for the game against Ireland ‘A’ in February.
He had previously featured in England age-grade sides at Under-18 and Under-20 level.
Haffar was a product of the London Irish Academy, making his senior debut in 2022 before moving to Northampton in the summer of 2023.
Speaking about joining Leicester Tigers, Haffar said: “I am really excited to be joining Leicester Tigers next season. It’s a club with a proud history and plenty of success over the years, including recently, and I am looking forward to being a part of the club.”
“Tigers has always had a strong focus on the forward pack and the role it plays in the game, which I am looking forward to contributing to and feel that, for my development, Leicester Tigers is a great place to improve that set piece area of my game and where I can learn as much as I can.”
Speaking about playing at Mattioli Woods Welford Road as a home player, Haffar added: “It is a historical ground in the game of rugby, not just the Premiership, and the fans are a huge part of that with the energy they bring, which helps galvanise Leicester teams. The supporters understand the team and the game, and it is very exciting to be able to call it home.”
On Haffar, Wilks added: “Tarek is a young, talented front-rower, who is making great strides in his career already, and we are pleased that it will continue with us at Leicester Tigers.”
“He is a powerful ball carrier, which offers a great point of difference alongside his other strong attributes as a prop, and is coming to a club who value set piece dominance. We are confident his development will continue working alongside our world-class front-rowers.”
JOAQUIN MORO
Argentina international Joaquin Moro has also agreed to join Leicester Tigers next season.
The 24-year-old made his Test debut for Argentina in 2024 and scored two tries in his senior international debut.
He is currently playing for Pampas XV in Super Rugby Americas, with the Buenos Aires based outfit boasting an alumni list that includes Pablo Matera and Matias Moroni, as well as current Leicester Tigers captain Julián Montoya.
Speaking about joining Leicester Tigers, Moro said: “I’m incredibly honoured to be joining Leicester Tigers, a club with such a rich history and passionate fanbase. I’m especially excited to work alongside such a talented group of players.”
“I’m confident this is the right move for me, and I can’t wait to contribute to the team, help the club achieve even more success and be part of something special here.”
On making the move to England and joining the Gallagher Premiership, Moro added: “The Premiership is one of the most competitive and intense leagues in the world, and I’m really looking forward to testing myself at that level.”
“I’m excited to face some of the best players and teams in the game, and I’m also eager to experience the unique atmosphere of Premiership rugby.”
On Moro, Wilks added: “We believe Joaquin has huge potential to develop at Leicester Tigers and continue the proud tradition of Argentine players fulfilling their ambitions in the game as part of our club.”
“It has been wonderful to hear from Joaquin how former Tigers, like Pablo Matera, and current Tigers have helped him to make the decision to join us, because of their positive experiences in Leicester.
“He is a unique player who will bring a point of difference and bring healthy competition for places within the group.”
CHARLIE TITCOMBE
Charlie Titcombe will also call Leicester Tigers home in Season 25/26, with the young fly-half returning to the club where he began his rugby journey as part of the pathway programme.
Titcombe, who attended Oakham School, represented the Tigers Academy between 2019-2021 followed by a short stint as part of Worcester Warriors and then on to current club Scarlets.
He was a member of Loughborough University’s BUCS Championship-winning side in 2023 and was named Men’s BUCS Super Rugby Player of the Season at the end of the title-winning campaign. Titcombe has also represented England Students.
Speaking about returning to Leicester Tigers, Titcombe said: “It’s the club my family and I have always supported since I was a kid and since coming through the Academy, it has always been a dream to play for Tigers. It’s a club steeped in history and success and I want to come to be a part of that and win trophies with Leicester Tigers.”
“There are mates of mine at the club who I came through the Tigers Academy age groups with, the likes of Emeka Ilione, Jack van Poortvliet, and Freddie Steward, to name a few, and I can’t wait to play alongside them again.”
Speaking about getting the chance to play at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Titcombe added: “I can’t wait to be able to play in front of a packed out home crowd, the atmosphere and feeling you get watching a game there is special so to be able to be in the middle of it is something i’m buzzing for.”
On Titcombe, Wilks added: “Charlie is a young lad who knows this club well, has a great passion for Leicester Tigers and is familiar to many of the players in our squad.”
“We always keep track of the talented youngsters who have developed with us and, like in the case of Ollie Chessum, are delighted to welcome back a player who has continued their development in the game.
“They, like Charlie, are great examples of young players who walk a different path to professional rugby.”
WILF McCARTHY
The club will also welcome exciting, young centre Wilf McCarthy to Leicester in the summer.
McCarthy will join Tigers on the back of a breakthrough season with Hartpury University in BUCS, which saw him crowned Men’s BUCS Super Rugby Player of the Season after starring in Hartpury’s Championship-winning campaign.
Before joining Hartpury, he was a member of the Exeter Chiefs Academy before representing Taunton Titans in National League 1 and spending time in the South African programme, SASRII.
Speaking about joining Leicester Tigers, McCarthy said: “To get an opportunity to start my professional career at such a historic club is more than a dream come true.”
“I'm really looking forward to being part of a new generation of younger players, as Leicester backs their young guns, but also learning from them as well as experienced players and coaches.
“I truly believe I am now ready to make this next step, mentally, physically and emotionally. From playing age-grade and schoolboy rugby, to Nat 1 with Taunton Titans straight out of school, combined with my time at SASRII in SA really gave me the appetite for professional rugby.
“To then go and play BSR and Championship rugby at Hartpury University which was the obvious choice to prepare myself for a professional career.
On McCarthy, Wilks said: “We are excited to welcome Wilf to the club next season and be a part of this next stage in his development as a player.”
“He has shown promise with Hartpury University and it will be a new challenge for him, entering a professional environment for the first time. We are confident that Leicester Tigers is where he can prosper and look forward to seeing him do so at the club.”
Leicester Tigers will confirm further signings to add to Geoff Parling’s 25/26 squad over the coming weeks.
