Horacio Agulla hopes to stay at the Tigers © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Horacio Agulla | Richard Cockerill

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Teams: Argentina | England | Leicester Tigers

Leicester winger Horacio Agulla still harbours hopes of extending his contract at Welford Road despite boss Richard Cockerill seemingly signalling that the Argentinean winger's days are numbered at the Tigers.

With the inaugural Rugby Championship coming into play this summer, Argentinean players plying their trade in the Aviva Premiership will miss a large portion of the season due to the tournament finishing in October. That, coupled with the November Tests, will mean the Tigers would in all likelihood have to make do without Agulla until December.

But although Cockerill has suggested that due to the international commitments Agulla will not be offered a new deal, Agulla is hopeful of reaching a compromise.

"Maybe the ARU might release us from the November Tests (to play for Leicester)," Agulla told the Leicester Mercury. "If they make an agreement with the RFU, myself and Cockers can sit down and talk again.

"Cockers told me that the door is open. He told me that if something changes, we can sit down and talk again. It's really hard for the club and I understand their position. I spoke to Cockers and asked him to be honest with me and he was.

"But the door is not closed. I will have to wait for some decisions to be made and then see what happens. I would like to stay here, it is one of the best clubs in the world and I am really happy here. The players, coaches and atmosphere at Leicester is unique. Putting Argentina out of the way, if I had to choose now, I would never leave this place. I love it."

And despite the potential conflict between the international and domestic windows, Agulla has revealed that there has been interest in his services. "It is concerning long-term, but at the moment at least I have a few options in France and England," he said. "At least I have something to go to so I can stay focused on rugby at Leicester."