Leicester Tigers agree new deals with seven players

Leicester Tigers have agreed new deals with six members of the club’s Senior Squad.

Ollie Chessum, Will Hurd, Julián Montoya, Guy Porter, Harry Wells and James Whitcombe have signed new contracts with the club beyond the 2022/23 season.

All six players made appearances in the club’s 2021/22 league campaign, with four playing in the Gallagher Premiership Final win at Twickenham Stadium.

Leicester Tigers is the only club the sextet have represented in Premiership Rugby, while Wells and Whitcombe are graduates from the Tigers Academy.

In addition to the six Senior Squad members, the club has agreed a new deal with Senior Academy lock Lewis Chessum.

Speaking about the seven new deals, Leicester Tigers Head Coach Steve Borthwick said: “It is incredibly pleasing to be able to announce these new deals with all seven of these players.”

“Each of these young men has worked incredibly hard for the club and been integral to what we are building at Leicester Tigers.

“Their new deals are the reward for their efforts and commitment to Tigers, to their teammates and to our supporters.

“I feel privileged to be able to continue to be a part of their journey as players and am excited that they will continue them as part of Leicester Tigers.”

OLLIE CHESSUM
Position: Lock / Back Row
Date of birth: 06/09/2000
Leicester Tigers debut: 30/08/2020
Leicester Tigers appearances: 31
Honours: England

Ollie Chessum returned to Leicester Tigers in 2020 from Championship club Nottingham after previous experience as part of the club’s academy programme.

The versatile forward, capable of playing at lock and across the back-row, has quickly established himself as a fan favourite among Leicester Tigers supporters in two years at the club, making 31 appearances and starting in the 2021/22 Gallagher Premiership Final victory over Saracens.

Chessum earned a senior international call-up during the 2022 Six Nations and made his Test debut away to Italy.

WILL HURD
Position: Prop
Date of birth: 29/06/1999
Leicester Tigers debut: 03/04/2021
Leicester Tigers appearances: 8
Honours: Scotland U20s

Will Hurd made the move home to Leicester Tigers in February 2021 from Glasgow Warriors.

The Leicester-born prop played his junior rugby for Ashby RFC and attended Ashby School and Loughborough College before earning an age-grade international call-up to represent Scotland during the 2019 Six Nations and Junior World Championship.

Hurd’s senior Tigers debut came during the latter stages of the 2020/21 campaign and added a Premiership debut during the club’s successful 2021/22 league run.

JULIÁN MONTOYA
Position: Hooker
Date of birth: 29/10/1993
Leicester Tigers debut: 29/01/2021
Leicester Tigers appearances: 27
Honours: Argentina U20, Argentina

Julián Montoya joined Leicester Tigers midway through the 2020/21 season after leading Argentina through their best-ever Rugby Championship campaign, which included the first-ever defeat of New Zealand’s All Blacks for the Los Pumas.

The front-rower made his Test debut at just 19 years of age and has gone on to represent his home nation on almost 80 occasions, becoming captain of Argentina in 2020.

Montoya was voted Players’ Player and Supporters’ Player of the Year for the 2021/22 season, in which he made 21 appearances - including starting at hooker in the 2021/22 Gallagher Premiership Final victory over Saracens.

GUY PORTER
Position: Centre / Wing
Date of birth: 23/01/1997
Leicester Tigers debut: 22/08/2020
Leicester Tigers appearances: 45
Honours: England

Guy Porter arrived at Leicester Tigers midway through the 2019/20 season after a decorated club career in Australia, including back-to-back Shute Shield titles with Sydney University - the second as captain.

The English-born back has played in both midfield positions as well as wing in his near half-century of appearances for the club, including starting at inside-centre in the 2021/22 Gallagher Premiership Final victory over Saracens.

Porter made his Test debut for England on their recent tour of Australia, featuring as part of the matchday squad in all three fixtures and starting the second and third at outside-centre.

HARRY WELLS
Position: Lock
Date of birth: 29/09/1993
Leicester Tigers debut: 26/01/2013
Leicester Tigers appearances: 156
Honours: England U20, England

Harry Wells made 33 appearances during the club’s 2021/22 season, the second most of any player in Steve Borthwick’s squad.

The second-rower graduated from the Tigers Academy in 2011 then spent time playing for Bedford and Nottingham before returning to the club ahead of the 2016/17 campaign.

Wells was an Anglo-Welsh Cup winner in 2017, England Test debutant in 2021 and member of the matchday squad in the 2021/22 Gallagher Premiership Final victory over Saracens.

JAMES WHITCOMBE
Position: Prop
Date of birth: 20/11/2000
Leicester Tigers debut: 19/12/2020
Leicester Tigers appearances: 23
Honours: England U18, England U20

James Whitcombe enjoyed a breakthrough campaign during the 2021/22 season, making 16 senior appearances - including a debut Premiership start in the club’s successful league run.

The front-rower graduated from the Tigers Academy ahead of the 2019/20 season after featuring in back-to-back Under-18 League winning seasons.

A second-generation Tiger, Whitcombe’s father - Martin - made 68 appearances for the club.

LEWIS CHESSUM
Position: Lock
Date of birth: 27/02/2003
Leicester Tigers debut: 29/03/2022
Leicester Tigers appearances: 2
Honours: England U20

Lewis Chessum graduated from the Tigers Academy at the conclusion of the 2020/21 season.

The younger brother of fellow Leicester lock Ollie, Chessum made his senior club debut during the 2021/22 Premiership Rugby Cup campaign after a loan spell with partner-club Nottingham Rugby.