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'He is the most respected individual I've ever seen inside the All Blacks'
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Tigers send Titcombe on loan to sharpen up against 'world-class players'
By Neil Fissler
Leicester Tigers boss Geoff Parling admits that fly-half Charlie Titcombe will have a great chance to develop his game after joining their partner club, leading Japanese outfit Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars, on loan.
Swindon-born Titcombe, 23, was a member of Loughborough University’s BUCS Championship-winning side in 2023 and was named Men’s BUCS Super Rugby Player of the Season, and joined the Tigers from the Scarlets this year.
He has featured in all four of their PREM Rugby Cup games this season, starting in the wins against Harlequins and Newcastle Red Bulls, and has also faced La Rochelle in the Investec Champions Cup.
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Titcombe, who made two appearances for Worcester Warriors in the Premiership Cup, will be returning to the East Midlands when the Japan Rugby League One season ends next summer.
“This is a great chance for Charlie to develop his game in a new environment. The high speed of the game in Japan is an ideal way to accelerate his progress,” said Parling
“Particularly as a fly-half learning to control the game with and against high-quality players. The experience gained in doing that during the Japan Rugby League One season will stand him in good stead when he returns next summer.”
James Wade, Tigers’ Head of Pathways and Rugby Partnerships, added: “Along with the experience of living and playing in Japan.
“Our previous experience shows us that players have a huge opportunity to develop in a different culture and then to bring those learnings back to training at Oval Park.
“It is also an opportunity for the Tigers’ DNA to be seen in the DynaBoars environment, which is another reason why we are growing this partnership.”
Titcombe will work with Head Coach Glenn Delaney and backs coach Joe Maddock at the DynaBoars, and has spoken to teammates Harry Palmer and Lewis Chessum, who have already spent time at the Sagamikara-based club located 40 miles west of central Tokyo.
“I’m really looking forward to experiencing the different culture of being in Japan, and in terms of my development, the main thing is to be pushing for consistent game-time week-on-week.
“I’ve had a few appearances in the PREM Cup, which has been really good, and I’ve loved that. Japan will build on that, playing week-in, week-out at a great level against some world-class players, and I’m really excited about that.
“Hopefully, it will develop my attacking game. It’s a very fast, attacking game out there, so I’m looking forward to that. Hopefully that will put me in a good place to come back and play a role for Tigers,” said Titcombe.
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