Leicester Tigers land Welsh centre Thomas and agree new deal for England U20 prop Heyes
Leicester Tigers have made their eighth signing ahead of the new season by landing Welsh centre Joe Thomas.
They have also locked down one of their hottest prospects, prop Joe Heyes.
Thomas joins new recruits Jordan Taufua, Tomas Lavanini, Calum Green, Noel Reid, Jaco Taute, Nephi Leitigaga and Charlie Clare at Welford Road as Geordan Murphy reshapes his squad.
Thomas, a Grand Slam winner with Wales Under-20s in 2016, played 18 times for the Ospreys before moving to play club rugby in New Zealand this year.
He started his career with Aberavon and Swansea before earning PRO14 experience with the Ospreys and also had a loan spell with the Dragons.
Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy said: “Joe has a very good skill-set, he was highly rated on his way through the ranks in Wales and now he is keen to come in here and take on a new challenge with Leicester.”
The 23-year-old Thomas, who returns to the UK after a spell with Waikato club Otorohanga in New Zealand, said: “I’m really excited about the opportunity to join Leicester Tigers. They are a massive club in the Gallagher Premiership with a big history of success.
“I can’t wait to get started. It will be great to be able to learn off some great coaches and compete and play alongside great players.”
Heyes is England Under-18s and 20’s international. He made 22 senior appearances in his debut senior season for Leicester and is currently in Argentina at his second World Rugby Under-20s Championship.
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The club is proud to announce that prop Joe Heyes has agreed new contract terms with the Leicester Tigers.
Read more ?? https://t.co/z15OYema2H pic.twitter.com/e8DdxQjKbv
— Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) June 21, 2019
“Joe was fast-tracked into senior rugby last season and showed great resilience throughout a tough and long campaign,” Murphy said.
“He is in good hands under the guidance of Boris Stankovich and has come on in leaps and bounds in a short time already.
“It is very exciting that, at just 20 years of age, he still has a lot of improvement in him and wants to continue his development in Leicester.”
Heyes added: “Ever since I joined the club, Leicester have supported and guided me all the way to be a better person on and off the pitch.
“Geordie has a great vision for the future of the club and I want to play my part in it, however big or small it may be.
“Tigers was the first rugby club I supported and Welford Road was the first rugby venue I went to. So, to be able to play for Leicester Tigers at somewhere as special as Welford Road, in front of a passionate and enthusiastic crowd, is a dream come true.
“I want to keep learning and develop as much as I can. I just want to play for Leicester Tigers because it’s a dream and I absolutely love wearing the shirt.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments