Leicester Tigers lose Tuilagi as five players leave club

Premiership Rugby side, Leicester Tigers, have today announced five of their star players are leaving the club. The highest profile name to depart is England centre, Manu Tuilagi. The British and Irish Lion is one of several players to have been locked in a contract dispute.

On 8 June, Premiership teams unanimously agreed to reduce the salary cap, from £6.4m to £5m. This was in order to cope with the losses incurred as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. This change has seen clubs offer their players revised contracts, contracts that have not been received with universal agreement.

Kyle Eastmond is another to leave the East-Midlands club amid contract controversy. Eastmond, now 30, has played four times for England back in 2009 and has been with Tigers since 2018.

The other players leaving Tigers are: Telusa Veainu, Greg Bateman and Noel Reid. Veainu, a Tongan international, joined the side in 2015 and has been a standout performer for the club. Bateman also joined in 2015 after scoring the winning try for Exeter Chiefs against Tigers. Reid only joined the Midlands side at the start of this season.

What does the future hold?

A number of French clubs are said to be interested in taking Tuilagi across the English Channel. Should the powerful centre seek pastures new abroad, he faces the possibility of throwing his England future into doubt. At the moment, national team selection allows very limited overseas player selection. Samoan born Tuilagi has expressed a desire to remain in the UK in order to continue playing for England and the British Lions.

The British and Irish Lions are set to tour South Africa in 2021.

The Tigers had struggled up until the postponement, they sit 11th in the Premiership but are not in danger of relegation this season. Saracens have already suffered relegation to next season’s Championship due to major salary cap breaches.

Leicester have said they estimated losing approximately £5m pounds in revenue due to disruptions. Furthermore, an immediate future of rugby without fans will do nothing to solve the revenue issues all Premiership clubs now seemingly face. There will certainly be more twists in the Premiership over the coming months.

We hope you enjoyed the article ‘Five Players Leaving Leicester Tigers’. Where do you think Manu Tuilagi should play next season? Let us know!

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