English talents stay at Welford Road
Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:22
Leicester Tigers have agreed new contracts with seven of their current English qualified players.
Full England internationals Louis Deacon, Dan Hipkiss and Jordan Crane have signed new deals to extend their stays at Welford Road.
Young tighthead prop Dan Cole, who has been training with the senior England squad ahead of the Six Nations Championship, and England Saxons scrumhalf Ben Youngs have also agreed new terms.
They have been joined by fellow Saxons caps Matt Smith and Ben Woods who have also agreed extension to their contracts at the defending Guinness Premiership champions.
"The culture of this club is always that we want a strong core of English players and players who have come through the ranks here," said Leicester Tigers head coach Richard Cockerill on the club's official website.
"The likes of Louis Deacon and Dan Hipkiss have come all the way through from the Academy to the senior team and to England international status and Ben Youngs and Dan Cole are following in their footsteps."
The Tigers boss added: "These guys all understand the culture of the club and they have a role too as an example and inspiration to all of our young players.
"All of our players have an excellent environment in which to improve their game here."
Tigers vice-captain Deacon is approaching 200 starting appearances for the club since making his debut in August 2000, whilst Hipkiss is close to 100 starts. Crane, who arrived from Leeds in 2006, is already approaching his 100th club appearance.
Academy products Cole, Youngs and Smith have made a significant impact in the senior squad over the past two seasons, while Woods capped his first season with the club following his switch from Newcastle Falcons with a try-scoring appearance in the Heineken Cup Final.
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