Leicester Tigers confirm five signings for next season, including England star

Leicester Tigers have confirmed five new signings ahead of the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership season.

#1. Josh Bassett from Harelquins

The 30-year-old will join Tigers from Harlequins, who he joined midway through the current campaign from Wasps.

Bassett played his junior rugby for Ampthill before moving to Bedford Blues ahead of the 2011/12 campaign. The outside-back was selected for England Under-20s in 2012.

In 2013, he joined Wasps and made more than a century of appearances for the club before joining Harlequins in 2022.

Bassett said:

“I want to continue developing, individually, and reach my potential. I see Leicester Tigers as the place to do that.

“Mattioli Woods Welford Road is a special place. You know it is going to be loud, the atmosphere is going to be electric and so the opportunity to be on the right side of that was a hard one to turn down.

“There are some amazing players at the club, who have done so well in recent years and are going to continue pushing on. Knowing I will be a part of that gives me energy and makes me excited.”

Wigglesworth said:

“We are really looking forward to welcoming Josh to Leicester Tigers next season.”

“He is a prolific try-scorer, hard-working player who offers plenty in defence out wide. He adds great competition to our outside-backs.

“Josh is a highly respected player and experienced in the game, which will be of great value to our young group.”

#3. Kyle Hatherell from La Rochelle

Hatherell was born in South Africa and played his age-grade rugby for The Sharks in Durban before playing for Scottish club Marr RFC ahead of joining Jersey Reds in 2018.

The versatile forward, capable of playing in at lock and in the back-row, spent three seasons in Jersey before joining Worcester ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

Hatherell said:

“I am absolutely delighted to be signing for Leicester Tigers. It is a club that I have always admired.”

“Having played at Mattioli Woods Welford Road and witnessed how passionate the crowd are, I can’t wait to show the Leicester fans how it will mean to me to put on the jersey.”

#5. Ollie Hassell-Collins from London Irish

Hassell-Collins has represented England at age-grade levels, Sevens and made his Test debut during this season’s Guinness Six Nations.

After graduating from The Exiles Academy, the outside-back has become a prolific try-scorer for the London club since his senior debut in 2018.

Hassell-Collins said:

“It’s the biggest club in England and hard to say no, when they want to come and chat with you. It excites me a lot, being a part of Leicester Tigers.”

“I know some of the guys and am looking forward to being a part of the young group and what is a pretty crazy potential line-up in the backline.

“It’s a hell of a ground, Mattioli Woods Welford Road, and when you think about Leicester Tigers, you think about the stadium and crowd, how hostile it is, and it’s exciting to know I’ll be on the home side of that.”

Wigglesworth said:

“Ollie is one of the game’s most exciting young wingers and it’s very pleasing that he will be a Leicester Tigers player from next season.”

“He has shown in the short time he’s spent in the senior game that he is capable of scoring tries and is also a physical presence out wide, in attack and defence, that we’re looking forward to having here at the club.

“Ollie deservedly so made his Test debut this season and that experience, especially alongside some of his future Tigers teammates, is fantastic for him and his game development.