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Leicester exodus continues as Tigers confirm 21 players set to depart the club

By Online Editors
Adam Thompstone is set to leave Leicester Tigers.

Leicester Tigers have revealed a long list of players who will be leaving the club at the end of the season as the Premiership side prepare for life under incoming head coach Steve Borthwick.

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Former England captain Borthwick takes over from long-serving Geordan Murphy in July, with Murphy set to move into the position of director of rugby.

And it looks as though Borthwick will be working with a new-look Leicester squad following today’s announcement that eight more players will be moving on.

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Winger Adam Thompstone is one of the most notable name on the list, and is joined by fellow backs EW Viljoen and Joe Thomas.

Forwards Tatafu Polota-Nau, Gaston Cortes, Sione Kalamafoni, Owen Hills and Will Spencer will also be leaving the club when their contracts end at the conclusion of the 2019/20 season.

Last month the club confirmed that Guy Thompson would also be leaving, while scrum-half Sam Harrison left in January.

England star Jonny May is returning to Gloucester after three seasons with Tigers while Jonah Holmes has been released from the final year of his contract so he can return to play in Wales.

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“We thank each of our departing senior players for all they have contributed to the club, on and off the pitch,” said Murphy.

“In their own way, over their own different periods of time, they have all added to the history of Leicester.

“They enter an exclusive group of ‘Droglites’ and will forever be able to say they represented this proud club.”

Defence coach Phil Blake is also moving on following his second stint with the club.

“Phil is a passionate, driven coach who arrived into our environment midway through last season and hit the ground running, leading our defence,” Murphy said.

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“The club is grateful to him for his efforts and we all wish him the best in the next chapter of his coaching career.

“We have an exciting group of players from all over the rugby world joining Tigers ahead of the next campaign who we believe to be important additions to our group,” Murphy added.

“There is no overnight fix for what has been another disappointing campaign, we are not hiding from that fact.

“Those players we have signed and our existing squad members who have renewed their contracts and committed to this journey, as well as our Under-18s making the step up ahead of next season, are all part of our long-term vision for Leicester Tigers.

“Getting the balance right in the modern game is no easy feat but I am pleased with the squad we have assembled and am looking forward to working hard together with our new-look coaching staff to get the best out of the group.

“We have every bit of confidence in what we are building and faith in the group that will represent Tigers from next season and beyond.

“This is another step on the journey and it’s not going to be easy … it is going to be built on hard work, putting ourselves under necessary pressure and seeing a squad-wide commitment, despite what anybody outside of our club says or thinks, to deliver the results that are expected of a Leicester Tigers team.”

Development Squad members Kyran Bungaroo, Sam Eveleigh, Leo Gilliland, Cameron Jordan and Keston Lines will also leave Tigers.

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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