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Leicester Tigers could be set to lose promising loosehead Hills

By Ian Cameron
Owen Hills

Leicester Tigers could be set to lose a promising young loosehead in the form of Owen Hills.

Just this morning it was confirmed that flanker Will Evans is leaving the club for Harlequins, a move that has frustrated many Tigers fans.

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Evans enjoyed a meteoric rise through the Tigers ranks in the closing stages of the 2015/16 season, making his senior debut for Leicester Tigers and then going to the World Under-20s Championships with England, becoming an integral part of the team that reached the final.

However he has seen precious little game time in the years since. Some have suggested that the 6 foot, 90kg Evans was considered too small for a club that prides itself on dominating opposing packs. Tigers also lost undersized hooker Harry Thacker, who has gone on to become a standout player at Bristol Bears since arriving at Ashton Gate last summer.

The 5’11, 116kg Hills doesn’t have a size problem but the 22-year-old is eager for more game time. RugbyPass understands that talks have taken place with both Gloucester and Bristol Bears, and that he could be set to be lured away from Welford Road.

A Leicester Tigers season ticket holder as a youngster, he played his junior rugby at Market Bosworth, before joining the Tigers academy.

He represented both England Under-18s and then Under-20s and reached the Junior World Cup Final in 2015. He graduated from the club’s academy to join the development squad in 2016/17.

According to Tigers’ website, he made his first senior appearance for Tigers in the Marcos Ayerza testimonial fixture against Argentina in 2015 and added senior experience with Moseley, Nottingham and Loughborough Students as he came through the professional ranks.

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Jon 10 hours ago
The case for keeping the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby Pacific

I have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.

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