England duo and Springbok commit to Tigers

TRANSFER NEWS: Leicester Tigers have agreed a new deal with international Jaco Taute.

Taute joined Tigers in the summer of 2019 after three years with Munster Rugby and spells with the Lions and Stormers in Super Rugby.

The centre made his international debut for the Springboks as a 21-year-old in 2012 and has played more than 100 senior matches in a professional career spanning more than a decade and across both hemispheres.

Speaking about the renewed deal, Leicester Tigers Director of Rugby Geordan Murphy said: “Jaco quickly became a leading figure in our changing room after arriving last seaon.

*Article continues below

“He is a student of the game and spends a lot of time working on improving himself and others, on and off the pitch.

“Jaco has earned this extension through hard work and a commitment to the club after only a year in Leicester and we are pleased to have him here for even longer now.

“His belief in what we have set out as our vision is a confidence boost for all of us at the club and the challenge to Jaco now is to continue playing the key senior role in seeing us back to where we belong through the hard work we know is ahead.

“What I have most enjoyed about Jaco since he arrived is how much he bought into the club, what it represents and his passion for Leicester Tigers.”

*Also read: Former Bulls signs Premiership deal 

The Premiership side also secured the signature of England Wolrd Cup stars Ben Youngs and Ellis Genge.

Youngs is England's most-capped scrum-half, with 99 Test appearances and has played 244 times for Leicester since making his debut in 2007 as a 17-year-old.

In a club career spanning more than a decade, the 30-year-old has scored 36 tries among his 200 career points for Tigers.

While The front-rower has made 70 first-team appearances for Leicester since making his debut in March 2016.

Initially signed on loan from Bristol, Genge made the move permanent at the conclusion of the 2015/16 season and has now extended a contract which the loosehead prop re-signed in January of this year.