Julián Montoya extends stay with Leicester Tigers
Julián Montoya has extended his contract with Leicester Tigers. While the length of the deal has not been disclosed, the Pumas captain is now certain to stay at Welford Road until at least the end of the 2023-2024 English Premiership season.
The 28-year-old has been first choice hooker for Tigers since debuting in January of 2021. He now has 27 appearances across all competitions with an impressive tally of 13 tries. Montoya is currently the only Argentine at the club following the departure of Matías Moroni to Newcastle Falcons.
Leicester are the defending Premiership champions after defeating Saracens in the Final at Twickenham in June. It marked a return to their traditional form after recording back-to-back 11th-place finishes, easily their worst-ever seasons, followed by a 6th place result in 2020-2021.
Exit: Leicester Tigers confirm 9 players leaving club
Gallagher Premiership heavyweights Leicester Tigers have confirmed the departure of nine players at the end of the season.
The nine players who are departing include Chris Ashton, Jimmy Gopperth, Calum Green, Sean Jansen, Kini Murimurivalu, Hosea Saumaki, and Eli Snyman. Tom West and Sam Wolstenholme, who arrived mid-season, will also be leaving.
In addition to the senior players, three academy players – George Loose, Chester Owen, and Riley Williams – will be departing the club.
The announcement of these departures comes after Leicester Tigers agreed early releases with five players during the current season – Freddie Burns, Bryce Hegarty, Nephi Leatigaga, Nemani Nadolo, and Lachlan Shelley. Richard Wigglesworth, who joined the club as a player-coach, announced his retirement midway through the season and before being appointed as the interim head coach.
Against this, the club has already confirmed five additions to the senior squad for next season, including Josh Bassett, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Kyle Hatherell, Jamie Shillcock, and Finn Theobald-Thomas. In addition to these new signings, the club has renewed contracts with twenty-three current players beyond this season.
Leicester Tigers has also welcomed Charlie Atkinson and Tom Whiteley to the club on long-term deals midway through the current campaign. Mike Brown, who joined the club at the beginning of the season, has agreed to a new deal beyond this season, much to the delight of the fans.
As the club prepares for the 2023/24 pre-season programme under new head coach Dan McKellar, Leicester Tigers will confirm next season’s senior and senior academy squads, as well as the coaching team
NEW DEALS AGREED: Ollie Chessum, Charlie Clare, Dan Cole, Cameron Henderson, Will Hurd, Dan Kelly, George Martin, Julián Montoya, Jack van Poortvliet, Guy Porter, Dan Richardson, Harry Simmons, Freddie Steward, Harry Wells, James Whitcombe, Lewis Chessum, Sam Edwards, Tim Hoyt, Emeka Ilione, Tom Manz, Archie Vanes, and Joe Woodward.