Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France
34 - 29
FT
Gallagher PremiershipJoe HeyesJoe Thomas

Leicester Tigers land Welsh centre Thomas and agree new deal for England U20 prop Heyes

Leicester Tigers land Joe Thomas and agree deal for Joe Heyes. (Photos by Henry Browne/Getty Images)

Leicester Tigers have made their eighth signing ahead of the new season by landing Welsh centre Joe Thomas.

ADVERTISEMENT

They have also locked down one of their hottest prospects, prop Joe Heyes.

Thomas joins new recruits Jordan Taufua, Tomas Lavanini, Calum Green, Noel Reid, Jaco Taute, Nephi Leitigaga and Charlie Clare at Welford Road as Geordan Murphy reshapes his squad.

Thomas, a Grand Slam winner with Wales Under-20s in 2016, played 18 times for the Ospreys before moving to play club rugby in New Zealand this year.

He started his career with Aberavon and Swansea before earning PRO14 experience with the Ospreys and also had a loan spell with the Dragons.

Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy said: “Joe has a very good skill-set, he was highly rated on his way through the ranks in Wales and now he is keen to come in here and take on a new challenge with Leicester.”

The 23-year-old Thomas, who returns to the UK after a spell with Waikato club Otorohanga in New Zealand, said: “I’m really excited about the opportunity to join Leicester Tigers. They are a massive club in the Gallagher Premiership with a big history of success.

“I can’t wait to get started. It will be great to be able to learn off some great coaches and compete and play alongside great players.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Heyes is England Under-18s and 20’s international. He made 22 senior appearances in his debut senior season for Leicester and is currently in Argentina at his second World Rugby Under-20s Championship.

“Joe was fast-tracked into senior rugby last season and showed great resilience throughout a tough and long campaign,” Murphy said.

“He is in good hands under the guidance of Boris Stankovich and has come on in leaps and bounds in a short time already.

“It is very exciting that, at just 20 years of age, he still has a lot of improvement in him and wants to continue his development in Leicester.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Heyes added: “Ever since I joined the club, Leicester have supported and guided me all the way to be a better person on and off the pitch.

“Geordie has a great vision for the future of the club and I want to play my part in it, however big or small it may be.

“Tigers was the first rugby club I supported and Welford Road was the first rugby venue I went to. So, to be able to play for Leicester Tigers at somewhere as special as Welford Road, in front of a passionate and enthusiastic crowd, is a dream come true.

“I want to keep learning and develop as much as I can. I just want to play for Leicester Tigers because it’s a dream and I absolutely love wearing the shirt.”

You may also like: ‘Going Pro’- Our new behind the scenes documentary with Saracens Women’s rugby team

Video Spacer

ADVERTISEMENT

Boks Office | Episode 41 | Investec Champions Cup final preview

Hong Kong China vs Kazakhstan | Asia Rugby Emirates Women's Championship | Match Highlights

Kubota Spears vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Quarter Final Replay

Australia vs USA | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

New Zealand vs Canada | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

Argentina vs Australia | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

Trending on RugbyPass

1

'Boys like me push the piano – he plays it': Tom Dunn lauds Bath teammate

2

Bath beat Lyon to win EPCR Challenge Cup and edge closer to treble

3

Bath player ratings vs Lyon | 2025 Challenge Cup final

4

Wales second-row Seb Davies switches Welsh URC sides

5

'He's an incredible athlete': 112kg forward named the fastest at Bath

6

Northampton turn to South African to take over as scrum coach

7

Sam Cane set for international swansong against Springboks

8

Why the All Blacks don't need to bother with a bomb squad

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

LONG READ

Elliot Millar Mills: 'You've come this far, you're being a coward if you give up'

The Northampton prop was ready to retire two years ago having never started a top-flight match. Now, he's a Premiership winner and Champions Cup finalist.

LONG READ

Fans flock to France’s ‘formidable’ ProD2 as English second tier plays catch-up

With former Test stars and record crowds, the ProD2 is a showcase for French rugby as the play-offs begin.

LONG READ

James Ramm: Backflips, Bambi and the biggest game of my life

Once a gymnast with Olympic goals, the Northampton Saints flyer is relishing his shot at Investec Champions Cup glory.

Comments on RugbyPass

C
Cantab 12 days ago
Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments
J
James 12 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments
d
dw 12 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments
d
dw 12 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments
d
dw 12 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.


Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments
R
RedWarriors 12 days ago
'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments
J
JM 12 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments
R
RedWarriors 12 days ago
'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments
O
OJohn 12 days ago
Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments
C
Carlos 12 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments
C
Carlos 12 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments
S
Solenn Bonnet 12 days ago
Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

WhatsApp.. +15617263697

website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

Telegram.. +15617263697

0 Go to comments
M
Mzilikazi 12 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments
M
Mzilikazi 12 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments
M
Mzilikazi 12 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.


Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments
B
BC 12 days ago
Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments
O
Otagoman II 12 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments
N
NB 12 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍

37 Go to comments
N
NB 12 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Always the same at the other place. Some of those perceptions of him at the Tahs - lazy, overweight and slow - were impossible to shift!

37 Go to comments
N
NB 12 days ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Hang on to Miz Carlos!

37 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Fans flock to France’s ‘formidable’ ProD2 as English second tier plays catch-up Fans flock to France’s ‘formidable’ ProD2 as English second tier plays catch-up
Search