Aviva Premiership
Cockerill admits Mele interest
ESPN Staff
December 21, 2012
Perpignan's David Mele is potentially on his way to the Tigers © PA Photos
Enlarge

Leicester Tigers boss Richard Cockerill has revealed that they are interested in Perpignan half-back David Mele's services.

The 27-year-old is predominantly a scrum-half but can also cover fly-half. With fly-half George Ford and scrum-half Micky Young's contracts up in the summer, Mele could offer a vital option across both positions.

"We are talking to lots of guys and David Mele is one of them," Cockerill told the Leicester Mercury. "We lose Ben Youngs for lots of the season in the scrum-half position when he is away with England and Mele is a good player. He plays scrum-half and fly-half and kicks his goals too. We are looking at our options."

And the Tigers are still trying to convince Geoff Parling to stay at the club. Reports at the weekend suggested the England second-row was on Gloucester's wish-list ahead of next season but Cockerill is confident that Parling will re-commit to the Tigers.

"There is a deal to be done. Geoff wants to stay, he has worked very hard and we have helped him to develop," said Cockerill. "We want to keep him and, as far as I am concerned, that deal will get done at some point after some shadow- boxing in between.

"We are not too far apart now. I have no doubt there will be a compromise and some good will to make it work."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.