Aviva Premiership
Exiles deny funding Thorpe contract
ESPN Staff
August 14, 2012
London Irish's Richard Thorpe drives forward against Northampton, London Irish v Northampton Saints, Aviva Premiership, Madejski Stadium, Reading, England, April 23, 2011
Richard Thorpe will turn out for Leicester next term © Getty Images
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London Irish have denied that they will be part-funding Richard Thorpe's contract at his new side the Leicester Tigers.

Richard Cockerill revealed last week that Thorpe will be joining the Tigers ahead of next season and London Irish have confirmed that the back-row's contract ceased on June 30, 2012. When Cockerill announced that his side had completed the deal for Thorpe he went on to state that "we came to an agreement with London Irish who have paid some of his salary for this year".

But London Irish have moved to deny this stating that "contrary to recent reports, London Irish can confirm that they will not be paying any of Richard's wages at his new club".

Thorpe is now Leicester's third signing from London Irish and follows in the footsteps of Dan Bowden and Adam Thompson in swapping the Madejski Stadium for Welford Road.

The first clash between the two sides next season should be a lively affair especially after Cockerill previously fuelled the fire between the two clubs, saying that: "Dan Bowden has been doing some rehab work for us and it has been a shock to the system for him.

"He has to turn up in the right kit and be in the right place at the right time. For some clubs, that is not the norm, but for us, all of the bits have to be in the right place."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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