With Chris Mundy already on loan with the National Two side this season, Tigers will strengthen their ties with Cambridge for the 2008/09 campaign. The partnership should result in a number of Tigers players on dual registration being loaned to Cambridge, who will in turn aid the development of these young players as well as other up and coming young prospects identified by Tigers.
The move has been welcomed by Tigers’ head of rugby development Andy Key, who believes it is a partnership that will benefit both clubs.
“A closer working relationship with a club like Cambridge will help us build on our youth development policy to ensure that we keep producing and nurturing the kind of young players capable of pulling on a Tigers first-team shirt in future years,” says Key. “As well as strengthening our relationship in the Cambridgeshire area, these links will allow some of our most promising academy players the opportunity to gain experience in senior rugby at a competitive level.
“Game time is a vital component of any young player’s development as it allows a player to put into practice what he is being coached on a regular basis. Although Guinness A League fixtures provide a welcome chance to achieve this, the A League is not a year-round event and therefore the opportunities for development are not as consistent as we would like.
“By entering into this agreement with Cambridge, we hope to be able to ensure our players can get used to the differences between junior and senior rugby. All of our players currently on loan with National League sides have seen an improvement in their game and that is exactly the kind of results we are looking for. Chris Mundy has benefited immensely from his experiences with Cambridge this season and I am sure the players that follow in his footsteps will gain just as much from their time with the club.”
Key’s sentiments are echoed by those behind Cambridge’s side of the scheme. Cambridge currently sit fifth in National Two, having built on last season’s steady mid-table finish following three successive promotions.
“We are delighted to announce our association with Leicester as it underlines our commitment to achieving first division rugby and developing talented young players”, said Cambridge Chairman Jerry Otter.
Cambridge player coach, James Shanahan was also quick to praise the work ethic of current Tigers and Cambridge back rower Mundy stating, “Any link which obtains players of Chris’ capability will strengthen the squad and bodes well for next season”.
