Three agree new contracts with Leicester Tigers

Posted on Mar 2, 2012 in English Rugby, Premiership

Leicester Tigers have agreed new contract terms with George Ford, Ed Slater and Anthony Allen.

England Under-20 captain Ford has been elevated to the Tigers first-team squad this season and started the campaign in the club’s No.10 shirt. Still 18 years old, Ford is the 2011 IRB World Junior Player of the Year and scored his first Tigers try in the Heineken Cup victory over Aironi during January.

Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill said: “George is a very good young player who will keep getting better here. He has an excellent understanding of the game, a maturity that belies his experience at the highest level and a very level head on his shoulders.

“I’m delighted that he sees his future with us and we look forward to seeing his continued development here.”

Second-rower Slater, 23, earned his first international recognition at England Saxons level this season, just 18 months after joining Leicester Tigers, and is now approaching 50 appearances for the club.

England international Allen, 25, has been a key part of the Tigers squad since his arrival from Gloucester in the summer of 2009 with more than 60 appearances for the club and was named Players’ Player of the Season in 2010/11.

Cockerill said: “Both Ed and Anth have established themselves as important parts of the first-team squad and they have a lot to offer.

“Ed came to us after a spell in Australia and has made the most of his opportunities in his first experience at this level. We were delighted to see him called up to the Saxons this season, which shows just how well he has been playing for Leicester.

“Anth has a lot of experience for a player who is still just 25 years old and he is a very consistent player and a good leader in the squad.

“There is always a strong home-grown core to our squad with the strength of our Academy and good, young English talent alongside the players we bring in from elsewhere, and that is a blend that works well for us.”

Sam Harrison and Thomas Waldrom, an England Elite Playing Squad member this season, have also recently agreed new contracts at Welford Road.

New boy Tonks commits to "something special"

Posted on Feb 28, 2012 in Edinburgh, Scottish Rugby

Edinburgh Rugby today confirmed that highly-rated Northampton Saints back Greig Tonks is the latest player to commit to the exciting future being forged at the Murrayfield club.

The versatile 22-year old has earned rave reviews at Franklin’s Gardens, scoring seven tries in 19 appearances since he joined from the Leicester Tigers’ Academy in 2010.

A combative presence with deft-play making skills, Greig has largely been deployed at full-back but his talents mean he excels also at stand-off and centre. His game management and thundering boot also made him a popular figure with fans in his stint with the Saints.

An Economics graduate from Leicester University, Tonks is eligible to play for Scotland through his Ayrshire born mother and has signed a two-year contract with the club, taking him up to the summer of 2014.

Edinburgh Rugby head coach Michael Bradley, said: “We’re very happy to have secured the services of Greig [Tonks]. His age profile is very good and he’s a brave, skilful, aggressive player and is a quality striker of a rugby ball.

“We play a fast and expansive brand of rugby which requires talented and intuitive players who can understand and react to playing different positions in pressured situations, so his versatility is a huge plus.

“Another stand-out characteristic is that he’s an extremely driven player with a hunger for success that sits well with the ambitions of this club.”

Born in Pretoria, South Africa, Tonks moved to England aged two and settled in Nottingham before being selected for the Leicester Tigers Academy and playing three seasons on loan with his home town’s Championship side and the England U16, U18 and U20 sides.

As well as visits north to spend time with family and friends, Tonks has fond memories of Scotland on rugby duty, in the Nottingham side that beat Heriot’s at Goldenacre in the British & Irish Cup in 2009 and at Murrayfield, where he made his Heineken Cup debut for the Saints in their win over Edinburgh en route to last season’s Heineken Cup final.

Tonks said: “Edinburgh play really good, attacking style of running rugby. It’s something I noticed when I played against them last season. They have the ability to take teams apart at speed and being part of that is something I’m very excited about.
“To play at Murrayfield will also be fantastic. It’s an impressive international arena with incredible training facilities so this move presents a pretty awesome opportunity for me to develop as a player and be part of something special with Edinburgh.”
Tonks is the latest name to join Edinburgh Rugby since South African prop WP Nel signed from Super 15 side Free State Cheetahs, while 13 other leading players, including free scoring winger Tim Visser and Scotland internationalists Greig Laidlaw, David Denton and Lee Jones, have committed to an exciting future building at Edinburgh Rugby.

Greig Tonks
Date of birth – 20 May 1989
Birthplace – Pretoria
Height – 1.85 m (6′ 1")
Weight – 95kg (14st 10lb)
Position – Full-back/centre/stand-off
Edinburgh Rugby new signings: WP Nel (Free State Cheetahs), Greig Tonks (Northampton Saints), Ulises Gamboa (Aironi, to the end of the season)
Edinburgh Rugby re-signings: Sean Cox, Geoff Cross, David Denton, Gregor Hunter, Lee Jones, Greig Laidlaw, Robin Hislop, Harry Leonard, Stuart McInally, Lewis Niven, Matt Scott, Steven Turnbull, Tim Visser

New Edinburgh deal for Jones

Posted on Feb 21, 2012 in Edinburgh, Scottish Rugby

Scotland and Edinburgh Rugby winger Lee Jones has capped a breakthrough season with an extended deal that will keep him at the Murrayfield club until 2014.

As one of the season’s stand-out performers, the young Borderer has shown an extraordinary strength and guile as a line-breaking, try-scoring winger, running in five scores in 16 appearances so far this season, two of which bookended the club’s historic pool campaign in the Heineken Cup.

Jones kick-started the club’s fight-back away against London Irish in round one and the last secured the all-important bonus-point against the same opposition at Murrayfield in round six to earn home advantage in the quarter-final against Toulouse on Easter weekend (Saturday 7 April).

As a player who has shown consistent improvements since turning professional in 2009, Jones was rewarded with selection in Scotland’s 2012 RBS 6 Nations squad, making his debut against England at Murrayfield before being reselected for the second Test against Wales.

Edinburgh Rugby head coach Michael Bradley said: “Lee [Jones] has grasped all the opportunities presented to him improve and perform.

“His performances have undoubtedly lifted the team on a number of occasions and he has an exceptional engine which always helps him to hunt out scores from the opposite wing.

“Some of his highlights would certainly be his covering defensive work and an incredible strength in the contact area that regularly takes teams by surprise. Few can afford to give him a glimpse of a gap or he’ll be away.

“His work rate is exceptional and he’s a great professional. He brings great energy to squad and we’re delighted to have such a committed player extend his time at the club.”

Jones first signed for Edinburgh Rugby in 2009 after some stirring performances for former club Selkirk.

Just a season after signing straight from Scotland’s domestic divisions, the Heriot-Watt graduate was excelling in the 2010 Commonwealth Games and in the HSBC Sevens World Series, before coming into his own in his second season at the capital club.

Jones said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have secured an extended contract.

“In my first year as a professional player (2010/11) I had to adjust to the daily intensity in training and the speed and physicality of the matches but, a season on, I’ve adapted to those demands and am now happy that I’m bringing a consistency to my performances for the club.

“I’ve never stopped improving as a player and I don’t plan to now. Everything I do is geared towards being a better professional and better player and, with of lot of key players signing on and some impressive new names joining the squad, I’m really happy to have secured a place as part of a bright future at Edinburgh Rugby.

“The last couple of seasons have been incredible. It really is a dream come true to play professional rugby for club and country.”

Scrum-half Harrison extends stay with Leicester Tigers

Posted on Feb 21, 2012 in English Rugby, Leicester, Leicester Tigers, Premiership

Leicester Tigers have announced that 21-year-old scrum-half Sam Harrison has agreed terms on a new contract.

Harrison came through the Tigers Academy ranks after playing his early rugby with John Cleveland College and Hinckley RFC, and has now firmly established himself in the Leicester first-team squad.

Capped at Under-20 level by England, Harrison passed the 20-game mark for first-team appearances earlier this month and has been a regular in the matchday squad during the 2011/12 campaign.

Director of rugby Richard Cockerill said: “Sam is a good young English talent who has come through the ranks here, starting with the Academy and learning his trade along the way.

“He’s had as much game-time this season as many of our senior players, he is developing as a player all the time and we’re delighted that he wants to stay.

“He is a very good young player in a very competitive position and he has put his hand up in terms of selection with his consistent form this season.”

Harrison said: “This is the club I always wanted to play for and it’s a privilege being able to train and play alongside so many top players.

“When you come here you know all about the players who have worn the Tigers shirt before you and the standards that are expected when you wear the shirt.

“I’ve particularly enjoyed having a run of games this season because that helps your confidence and your game. I’m very happy to agree a new contract with the club.”

Chiefs Duo Agree New Deals

Posted on Feb 16, 2012 in English Rugby, Exeter, Exeter Chiefs, Premiership

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has spoken of his delight after two of his more senior stars today committed themselves to the Aviva Premiership club for the next two years.

Prop Hoani Tui and Jason Shoemark have both penned new contracts with the ambitious Devon club following productive talks with Baxter, who believes the retention of both men is a massive boost to the playing squad.

Tui, who joined the Chiefs from Italian outfit Calvisano in the summer of 2009, is now into his third season with the Chiefs and has already amassed 66 appearances in total for the club, scoring six tries in the process.

Meanwhile, fellow New Zealander Shoemark is now into his second year at Sandy Park having joined from Super 15 franchise the Highlanders. A virtual ever-present since his arrival in England, 31-year-old Shoemark has so far accrued 31 appearances, scoring two tries.

“I’m a big believer that your retention policy in some ways is more important that your recruitment,” said Baxter, who is hoping to tie up a number of his other out-of-contract players in the coming weeks.

“Making sure you keep the right players on board is obviously important for us. I feel we have got a good squad of players and good characters who have played a big part of our on-going success in getting to the Premiership and helping us establish ourselves.

“I don’t want to be making too many changes year on year and these two guys are a big part of things on and off the pitch.”

Tui, 27, has already proven this season how much of a valuable asset he is to the Exeter front-row, having featured both at loosehead and tight-head for the club in both the Premiership and European competition.

“It shows his value to us, he’s not just a good player – at tight-head and loosehead – but his attitude says it all,” added Baxter. “Every player likes to play in their preferred position and Hoani is no different, he wants to play as well as he can at tight-head and really wants to establish himself there.

“I had a two-minute conversion with him when Moony was injured and Sturge had been knocked around and said we may need him to step in at loosehead and it wasn’t an issue for him. He said he’d give it a go and had just one scrummaging session to get himself reacquainted with playing at loosehead before he was straight in there, starting an Amlin Challenge Cup game.

“He’s a good character, a popular member of the squad and a very good player. What people may not understand is that Hoani is still getting better, particularly as a tight-head. If you look at how much top-level rugby he’s played you’ll see he’s still learning as he goes.

“He signed for us in the Championship, last year in the Premiership he didn’t play every game by any means because he got injured fairly early on and this season he’s played some games at tight-head and some at loosehead.

“He’s going to get better for some time yet, he’s going to be gaining experience for the next three or four years. For me he is a good player who could be very good and that on-going process is going to be fantastic.”

Likewise, Shoemark’s experience to the Exeter midfield has also been key according to the Chiefs coach.

“We spent a lot of time looking for a player like Shoey,” added Baxter. “We wanted someone with experience, not just of matches but someone used to being a leader, used to playing in different groups of people and bringing the best out of those around them. Shoey ticked all those boxes.

“It’s very rare he has one of those errors that you can’t see where it came from. He’s very sound defensively and is a better ball carrier than people give him credit for. He was used to captaining teams before he came to Exeter and the way he is around training and around the squad shows that. Other players are comfortable with him.

“Defensively it is key to have a guy in the midfield making tackles and then competing for the ball and making sure the opposition don’t get too quick ball and those are qualities Shoey has.

“I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him in an Exeter shirt. His performances are still getting better and that’s always pleasing for coaches. We are a long way from being the finished article as a team and Shoey is a key part of that. He’s keen to develop areas of our game and his game and that’s what we want to have here.

“Both players are ambitious and both want more from the game than they have at the moment.”