Leicester Tigers sign Charlie Atkinson

Leicester Tigers can confirm the signing of Charlie Atkinson.

The 21-year-old joins Tigers on a long-term deal from Wasps.

Born in Oxford, Atkinson was educated at Abingdon School and enjoyed a decorated age-grade career with appearances for England at Under-18 and Under-20 level while a member of the Wasps Academy.

Atkinson was a team-mate of Jack van Poortvliet’s in the England Under-20 squad which completed a grand slam in the 2021 Six Nations.

Ahead of the 2021/22 season, Atkinson was promoted to the Wasps first team squad after having already appeared in Gallagher Premiership, Premiership Rugby Cup and Heineken Champions Cup fixtures for the club.

The fly-half, who also plays full-back and is a capable goal-kicker, was included in England’s training squad in Jersey last week ahead of the national side’s 2022 Autumn Test matches.

Speaking about the addition of Atkinson, Leicester Tigers Head Coach Steve Borthwick said: “Charlie is an excellent young player who, at only 21 years of age, has gathered a lot experience in senior rugby.”

“It is exciting to be welcoming someone of his calibre and character to the club, adding to the young group of players who have committed to Leicester Tigers recently.

“We are confident he is the type of player who will fit in well with our squad and has experience alongside some of his new club mates already with England at various levels.

“It’s important we keep building on the foundations we have put in place early on in this journey and Charlie’s addition to the exciting crop of youngsters we have here is another promising step forward.”

Discussing his move to Leicester Tigers, Atkinson said: “I am really excited to be joining a club like Leicester Tigers, with such a good squad of players and coaches."

“It’s a group who are clearly on the same page and everything done is done for a reason, which I am looking forward to being a part of for a long time.

“The opportunity to join a group of players, with such a young core who are a similar age to me is something that I was keen to do.

“I have had the chance to play at Mattioli Woods Welford Road before and, as an away player, you can feel how much the team means to the supporters.

“The Leicester Tigers fans play such a massive part in the games and so, for me, knowing I will have a crowd like that who have got my back is so exciting.”

Atkinson joins the club effective immediately.