Leicester Tigers confirm three signings for next season

Leicester Tigers have confirmed three new signings for next season.

Second-rower Calum Green has agreed a move from Newcastle Falcons. The 28-year-old Green has been among Premiership Rugby’s leading locks in recent seasons, particularly in his work at the set-piece.

Originally from Norwich, Green came through the Tigers Academy, leading the team as captain in his final year before moving into senior rugby and making his senior debut for the club at the end of the 2008/09 season as a teenager.

After a spell with Yorkshire Carnegie, he joined Newcastle in 2014 and has made more than 100 first-team appearances for the Falcons.

Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy, welcoming Green’s signing, said: “Calum has played a lot of senior rugby with Carnegie and then the Falcons and has firmly established himself as a Premiership player.

“His stats have been particularly good at the lineout in the last couple of seasons and he is a real hard-worker in the forward pack.

“We think he will add a lot to the group here when he returns and we look forward to welcoming him back to Tigers this summer.”

Green said: “Leicester is where my career started and to have the opportunity to return was too good an opportunity to let go by.”

“I know a lot of the players in the squad, coaches and staff and am excited to get back to Welford Road and be called a Tiger once again.

“Geordie is so passionate about the club and I’m looking forward to working under him and alongside the playing group in getting Tigers back to the top.”

Green’s addition comes off the back of news that international centres Noel Reid and Jaco Taute will also join the club in time for the start of the 2019/20 season, in addition to New Zealand back-rower Jordan Taufua from Super Rugby’s Crusaders.

South African Taute said: “I am looking forward to the challenge of the Premiership and excited to be joining a club like Leicester Tigers.

“Leicester has a rich history and I want to contribute to creating even more memories for the fans at Welford Road.

“I am excited about working alongside the quality players in the squad and under Geordan Murphy and his coaching team.”

Reid said: “I’m very excited to be joining a club like Leicester, with its history and success in the game, and to become a Tigers player next season.”

“I’ve enjoyed my time at Leinster and it will be sad to leave the club, staff and players at the end of the season, this place will always be special to me.

“To call Welford Road home and to be a part of what they are building under Geordan Murphy is going to be great and I’m looking forward to contributing alongside the rest of the Tigers squad.”

Confirming the signings, Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy said: “We’ve obviously seen Jaco close-up in European competition and he is a big, physical unit in the backline with extensive experience in the southern hemisphere and also at the top-end of European rugby.

“He is an option at centre or at full-back for us and we look forward to welcoming him in the pre-season period.

“I’ve been aware of Noel’s qualities for some time in a very successful Leinster set-up and I’m very happy to be able to bring him to Welford Road.

“He is a natural footballer and a versatile player who has worked with top-class players at Leinster and Ireland.

“That experience will be very important to us over a tough and competitive season, and we look forward to seeing both players’ influence within the squad here.”