Aviva Premiership
Manu Tuilagi pens new Tigers deal
ESPN Staff
May 30, 2013
London Irish gang up on Leicester's Manu Tuilagi, Leicester Tigers v London Irish, Aviva Premiership, Welford Road, Leicester, May 4, 2013
Manu Tuilagi was a key figure in Leicester's run to a 10th English title © Getty Images
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Leicester Tigers have announced that Manu Tuilagi has agreed a new 'long-term' contract with the Premiership champions.

The 22-year-old centre, who is one of six Leicester players currently on tour with the British & Irish Lions, has scored 19 tries in 62 appearances for the club, including one in last weekend's Aviva Premiership Final victory over Northampton. He has also 21 England caps to his name and has scored 10 Test tries including a memorable score in the victory over world champions New Zealand last year.

Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill said: "Manu is a world-class talent and has taken every challenge that has come his way in his stride in the last three years as a senior player.

"We all know what he can do, but he is maturing as a player all the time too which means he is getting better and better with every season.

"He was very proud to have the opportunity to follow his brothers into the Leicester Tigers team, Leicester is his home and we're delighted that he has committed his long-term future to the club."

Tuilagi ended the 2012-13 season with his first Premiership winner's medal as well as being named Young Player of the Year by Tigers supporters for a second time in three years and collecting the club's award for Try of the Season for the early-season score against Worcester Warriors at Welford Road.

The re-signing of Tuilagi follows the announcement of new deals for fullback Mathew Tait and hooker George Chuter and scrum-half Sam Harrison. Lock Graham Kitchener, flanker Steve Mafi, winger Niall Morris, lock Geoff Parling, flanker Julian Salvi, scrum-half Ben Youngs and hooker Tom Youngs have also committed their futures to Welford Road.

In addition, Leicester have recently confirmed five new additions to the first-team squad for next season with the signings of hooker Neil Briggs, winger Gonzalo Comacho, flanker Jamie Gibson, fly-halves Ryan Lamb and Owen Williams. They have also confirmed the arrival of prop Jerome Schuster and scrum-half David Melé from Perpignan.

Manu Tuilagi is one of six Tigers players currently on tour with the British & Irish Lions © Getty Images
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