New signing Boris Stankovich says he will be fit and raring to go after a shoulder operation when he arrives at Leicester in the summer.
The 27-year-old prop has spent five years in France with Albi, but has agreed a switch to Welford Road.
He had shoulder surgery during the break in the French season around the Six Nations and was able to play in the closing weeks of the campaign.
"It was a bit of a wear-and-tear injury and I made the decision to get it done during the two months when the league is closed down during the Six Nations," Stankovich said. "I had four weeks in a specialist rehab centre near Biarritz, working very hard. I was up at 7am and had pretty tough sessions all day from 7.30am to 5pm."
Stankovich, who is New Zealand born but played his early rugby in England with Bath and London Irish, played a big part in Albi's promotion to the Top 14 in 2005/06 and has since helped secure the Brittany outfit's top flight-future following their recent 39-0 demolition of bottom-placed side Narbonne.
"I have been in France for five years and I have enjoyed it very much. As a prop, it is the one place you want to go to learn," he says. "I thought I would just stay one season but it didn't work out like that and I will be very sad to leave. But, when Leicester called and said they were interested, I could not turn it down. Their reputation speaks for itself. With Richard Cockerill and Graham Rowntree on the coaching staff how can you not become a better player by going to Leicester?"
The 27-year-old prop has spent five years in France with Albi, but has agreed a switch to Welford Road.
He had shoulder surgery during the break in the French season around the Six Nations and was able to play in the closing weeks of the campaign.
"It was a bit of a wear-and-tear injury and I made the decision to get it done during the two months when the league is closed down during the Six Nations," Stankovich said. "I had four weeks in a specialist rehab centre near Biarritz, working very hard. I was up at 7am and had pretty tough sessions all day from 7.30am to 5pm."
Stankovich, who is New Zealand born but played his early rugby in England with Bath and London Irish, played a big part in Albi's promotion to the Top 14 in 2005/06 and has since helped secure the Brittany outfit's top flight-future following their recent 39-0 demolition of bottom-placed side Narbonne.
"I have been in France for five years and I have enjoyed it very much. As a prop, it is the one place you want to go to learn," he says. "I thought I would just stay one season but it didn't work out like that and I will be very sad to leave. But, when Leicester called and said they were interested, I could not turn it down. Their reputation speaks for itself. With Richard Cockerill and Graham Rowntree on the coaching staff how can you not become a better player by going to Leicester?"
