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Leicester farewell Veainu, agree contract extensions with 4 other players
Leicester Tigers have offset their official farewell to Telusa Veainu by confirming that four other players – Hanro Liebenberg, Nephi Leatigaga, Facundo Gigena and Harry Wells – have all agreed extended contracts with the English Premiership club.
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Veainu was one of five players who opted not to agree to reduced salary terms last week, joining Manu Tuilagi, Greg Bateman, Noel Reid and Kyle Eastmond in leaving the club.
The Tongan became the first of that quintet to sort out his future, Stade Francais announcing on Tuesday that they have agreed to a three-year deal for the back who joined Leicester after appearing for his country at the 2015 World Cup.
He went on make just shy of 90 appearances for the club, scoring 32 tries and being voted RPA player of the year for one of his campaigns.
Speaking to the Tigers website, director of rugby Geordan Murphy said: “We thank Telusa for all that he has given to Leicester Tigers during his time with us.
Jury is in after the Tongan's hasty Tigers exit
https://t.co/kG8D9zrHhj— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 7, 2020
“The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has not been lost on anyone and while we hoped to see Telusa play out the remaining one-and-a-half seasons of his contract with us at Tigers, we appreciate the varying individual circumstances of all our players and wish him, his partner and child well in their next chapter in Paris.”
To make up for the less lucrative salary terms on offer at Welford Road, Leicester have been offering extended contracts to players.
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George Worth, Sam Aspland-Robinson, Tommy Reffell, Jordan Olowofela and Ben White all put pen to paper on Monday with South African back row Liebenberg, Samoan prop Leatigaga, Argentine prop Gigena and English second row Wells following suit on Tuesday. The length of their extensions was unspecified by the club, though.
Murphy said: “Hanro hit the ground running this season and quickly established himself as an important part of our club, moving forward. He wants to be a Tigers player and believes in what we are building here at the club, which he has bought into after less than a season.
“Nephi has had an impressive start to his Tigers career and improved with each performance during the current campaign. He has an opportunity now to go on with it and continue to progress here in a Tigers shirt, under the guidance of Boris Stankovich and alongside some experienced, international front rowers.
“Facundo has grown as a player with every opportunity he has got since joining us two years ago. He arrived here as an unknown and, through his hard work and no-nonsense style, has become a favourite among supporters in the stands at Welford Road and his teammates.
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“Every time Harry pulls on a Tigers shirt, he leaves nothing on the pitch and he is committed to seeing the club get back to where it belongs. He has played more than 70 games in the past three seasons… we want players at Tigers who are committed to the journey and the tough work we know is required.”
@LeicesterTigers Takeover at @nmrfc gets extra coverage in RugbyPass’ interview with Telusa Veainu
— Stuart Grantham (@stu72g) March 2, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Not sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
24 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
1 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
24 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
24 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to comments