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Rugby News

Leicester Tigers Leavers '22

Leicester Tigers can confirm the players who will depart in the summer.

Seven members of the Senior Squad will leave Leicester, while two Senior Academy players will also depart.

The seven Senior Squad players are:

  • Sam Aspland-Robinson
  • George Ford
  • Ellis Genge
  • Matías Moroni
  • Juan Pablo Socino
  • Marco van Staden
  • Jaco Taute

Aspland-Robinson, who spent this season on loan with Championship club Coventry Rugby, made 14 appearances in four seasons at the club.

Ford and Genge’s departures were confirmed during the season, with the fly-half joining Sale Sharks and front-rower linking back up with Bristol Bears next season.

In two stints at Tigers, Ford made 129 appearances and scored 1,256 points - featuring in two Premiership title winning campaigns.

Genge, who initially made the move to Leicester on loan during the 2015/16 campaign, leaves after making 111 appearances and having captained the club to the 21/22 Gallagher Premiership title.

"It has been a privilege to have had the opportunity to work with and learn from all of these players"

Steve Borthwick

Moroni, who joined Tigers ahead of the 2020/21 season, made 36 appearances since debuting in a European Challenge Cup victory over Brive at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in December 2020 and will join Newcastle Falcons next season.

Socino, who joined from Saracens at the beginning of the current campaign, leaves Leicester having made nine appearances in his lone season at the club.

van Staden made eight appearances for the club after arriving during the opening months of the 21/22 campaign after Test appearances for South Africa in the 2021 Rugby Championship. The South African's departure comes after agreeing an early departure to continue injury rehabilitation in his home nation.

Taute, who moved from Munster to Leicester ahead of the 2019/20 season, has retired from professional rugby. The South African international made 19 appearances in three seasons at the club.

From the Senior Academy, the players are:

  • Jonny Law
  • Jack Rowntree

Both Tigers Academy graduates, Law and Rowntree have spent the past two seasons as part of the club’s senior academy programme and had loan spells with Loughborough University during their time at the club.

Law, who made his senior debut while still a member of the academy programme in 2019, has made five appearances for Tigers. The scrum-half has signed for Championship club Jersey Reds for next season.

Rowntree, who was an Under-18 League winner with Tigers, did not make a senior appearance during his time in the Senior Academy.

Meanwhile, Olly Robinson’s loan spell with the club has come to an end and Tomiwa Agbongbon’s short-term contract has concluded.

Robinson made seven appearances for the club after arriving in January and Agbongbon made five appearances - each of this season’s Premiership Cup fixtures - after joining mid-season from Loughborough University.

Speaking about the departing players, Head Coach Steve Borthwick said: “First and foremost, I want to thank each player for their contribution to Leicester Tigers.”

“They have all played a part in this early stage of our journey at the club and I am grateful for the hard work and effort they have put in to carry us forward.

“It has been a privilege to have had the opportunity to work with and learn from all of these players.

“As well as being professional, hard working and talented rugby players, they have been fine young men who I am certain the supporters are proud to have had represent them and the club during their time at Leicester Tigers.

“In addition, I want to thank their families for their support. It has been a huge source of inspiration for all of us throughout this season.

“On behalf of everybody at Leicester Tigers, I wish all of the players and their families well for their next chapters.”

During the current season, the club agreed early releases with three players - Cyle Brink, Dan Lancaster and Kobus van Wyk - as well as seeing long-serving Tigers player and former captain, Tom Youngs, retire from professional rugby in April.

Brink, who made 19 appearances for Tigers after debuting in November 2020, joined South Africa’s Bulls.

Lancaster (five appearances) and Kobus van Wyk (18 appearances) were granted early releases to explore opportunities elsewhere.

Youngs made 215 appearances for Leicester, as well as gaining 28 Test caps for England and three for the British & Irish Lions.

A Premiership winner in 2012/13 and Anglo-Welsh Cup winner in 2016/17 with Tigers, Youngs retired in second place on the club’s all-time list for appearances as captain with 98 behind only Martin Johnson.

The club will confirm next season’s Senior and Senior Academy squads ahead of the players’ return for the 22/23 pre-season programme in July.