BBC SPORT    BBC News >>   Graphics version >>   Change to UK edition >>

Sport Front Page | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Other Sports | Sports Talk | BBC Pundits | TV & Radio | Funny Old Game | N Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Rugby Union Contents: International | European | English | Celtic |
Monday, 8 July, 2002, 16:35 GMT 17:35 UK

Tigers strengthen their pack

European champions Leicester Tigers unveiled three new signings and a £1million sponsorship deal on Monday.

The Zurich Premiership champions have added two experienced internationals and a virtually unknown Welsh hooker to an already highly impressive squad.

Coach Dean Richards has tempted highly-rated French prop Franck Tournaire, Irish scrum-half Tom Tierney and 22-year-old Rhys Williams to Welford Road.

Tournaire, capped 49 times by Les Bleus, was part of the France squad which reached the final of the 1999 World Cup.


" Rhys is a good player, Tom is an international player and Franck is a world-class player "
Leicester coach Dean Richards

But the 29-year-old tight head has since struggled to hold down a place in the national squad under new coach Bernard Laporte.

Tierney, who has eight caps, has also been out of favour with since Ireland's 50-18 hammering against England two years ago.

Williams, on the other hand, has been signed on his perceived potential rather than any proven pedigree.

The former Wales under-19 international played for Blackwood in the Welsh First Division two years ago.

He has since been globe-trotting, playing for Australian side Northern Suburbs and for Kowloon in Hong Kong.

Richards said: "It's a great day for Leicester. We've been working hard on getting these players.


" I have a huge amount of admiration for all three of them "
Dean Richards

"I do believe that the squad we've got here is increasing in quality and strength.

"Rhys is a good player, Tom is an international player and Franck is a world-class player.

"I have a huge amount of admiration for all three of them and they are the type of players this club is looking for."

The Tigers have agreed a three-year contract worth more than £1m with landscaping company Bradstone.

The deal is the biggest in British club rugby and replaces the old agreement with Vauxhall, who have been Leicester's official sponsors since 1999.

Company director Alan Smith said: "The association with Leicester Tigers puts us together with one of the leading sporting clubs in the UK and Europe."


Related to this story:
Connors slams ARU (08 Jul 02 | International) Wasps close in on Howley (03 Jul 02 | Celtic) Kefu back for Wallabies (08 Jul 02 | International)


^^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Feedback | ©