Ellis Genge and George Ford among the latest batch of 4 extended player contracts confirmed by Leicester
Ellis Genge certainly seems to have settled his differences for now with Leicester, the England prop going from being one of the players who potentially could have left the club due to the controversial permanent salary reductions to having that blow soothed by a contract extension agreement.
While Telusa Veainu became the first of five exiting Leicester players to sort out his future elsewhere on Tuesday, the Tongan back securing a three-year deal with Stade Francais, the Tigers have been in the process of announcing a slew of contract extensions.
To make up for the less lucrative salary terms on offer at Welford Road, Leicester have been offering extended contracts to multiple players to lighten the mood at the financially troubled club. George Worth, Sam Aspland-Robinson, Tommy Reffell, Jordan Olowofela and Ben White all put pen to paper on Monday.
South African back row Hanro Liebenberg, Samoan prop Nephi Leatigaga, Argentine prop Facundo Gigena and English second row Harry Wells following suit on Tuesday, while prop Genge, out-half George Ford, scrum-half Ben Youngs and midfielder Jaco Taute were among the further deals confirmed on Wednesday. The length of all these extensions remained unspecified by the club, though.
Genge had been outspoken in recent months about player salaries and welfare across the Gallagher Premiership, toying with the idea of setting up a new players union, Rugby Players Epoch, separate from the existing Rugby Players’ Association.
✍️ 𝙀𝙓𝙏𝙀𝙉𝘿𝙀𝘿!
The club has agreed a new deal with international @EllisGenge.
ℹ️ https://t.co/4tzVdKwRBA pic.twitter.com/DcbHtWyTNo
— Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) July 8, 2020
However, despite his ambitions securing the support of 128 players, he eventually decided to put his plans on ice after becoming disillusioned with the laborious challenge of having to individually negotiate with all 13 stakeholder Premiership clubs. “(RPE) is not happening at the moment,” he said at the time. “If we find an opportunity to kick-start it again, then we will. For the time being, it’s a case of (players) dealing with their club independently.”
Genge’s own negotiations with Leicester resulted in an extension, but at reduced terms to what he had been on. “Ellis is a unique individual who we love having at Leicester Tigers,” said Geordan Murphy, the director of rugby. “I said in January, when he last re-signed, that what most excites me about Ellis is that he still has so much left to do in the game and so much growth in him as a player.
“You forget he is only 25, given what he has already achieved, and if he continues on the path he is on, with mentors like Boris Stankovich, Brett Deacon and now Steve Borthwick here in Leicester, it’s exciting to think about what we will get to see Ellis do in a Tigers shirt.
“He is passionate about this club, committed to his team-mates and what we are building at Tigers and to have him extend his deal, among more than 15 other players this week, is promising and exciting for everyone in Leicester.”
Tigers also agreed on terms with England out-half Ford and Test scrum-half Youngs. “George is one of the world’s best and to have him extend his contract, showing a belief in what we are building here and the vision we have for Leicester Tigers, is exciting,” said Murphy.
“He is as professional a player as I have seen in my career, as both a player and coach and one of the senior leaders at our club. George finds ways, every day, to improve himself as a player and represents what we believe is integral here in Leicester. There is a lot of hard work ahead for all of us at Tigers and we see George playing a key role, on and off the pitch, in our future.
“It’s pleasing to see Ben commit to the club long-term. He is one of the world’s best in his position and to have Ben commit to our plan and vision here in Leicester is exciting for everyone. Ben loves Leicester Tigers and, like all of us at this club, wants to see it get back to where it belongs.”
Regarding South African Taute, who joined in 2019 from Munster, the director of rugby added: “Jaco quickly became a leading figure in our changing room after arriving last summer. He is a student of the game and spends a lot of time working on improving himself and others, on and off the pitch.
“Jaco has earned this extension through hard work and a commitment to the club after only a year in Leicester and we are pleased to have him here for even longer now.”
ICYMI: Ellis Genge on whose advice he sounds out most – “I wouldn’t say I will have one mentor throughout my whole career. Kyle Traynor gives me advice. Danny Cipriani has given me advice… I speak to Joe Marler a lot. I speak to Kyle Sinckler a lot.”https://t.co/t0vJOxSIfg
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 11, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
77 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments