May in; Slater out!

[Noggs]

Looks like the shed will be cheering Ed Slater this season and in return we will have the pleasure of watching Jonny May!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40804483

Good swap?

[HantsTiger]

Yup, gives us some much needed pace at the cost of a great player but one whose successor (Barrow) is now in place. Believe me I'd love to retain Ed but if it's the only way to clear some salary cap then so be it.

[Noddy555]

If this does come to fruition that is good for Leicester's back line I'm only sorry it's Slates who is moving the other way although we do have strength in Depth in the locks. Slates has given us excellent service and I'm sure most fans will join me in wishing him well in his future career.

[mol2]

A positive signing.
May has real pace which is something we've lacked in recent times.

[Soggypitch]

A brilliant signing, we've lacked raw pace for a long time and May's game has been transformed since EJ took over at England.

Very sad to be losing ES, a true Tiger and one who will leave with all our best wishes. That's professional sport.

[TigerCam]

May and Ford will give the Tigers another edge

[PaleoTiger]

May and Ford will give the Tigers another edge

+1

Always been a huge Slater fan, one of the highlights of my first year was Slaters paced try v Sale 2012. He is simply our best destructive forward at mauling and disruptive defending. Ed has been V unlucky with injury for me, if he had been fit I think he would have been the George Kruis lock in that Eng team. In an alternate world he could be England captain, he has been blighted that when it was HIS TIME, he was injured and then injured again. He was a fabulous Tigers Captain and I personally would follow him into war, love the guy.

All that said, for the bigger picture, this is the right decision. Barrow is the now, Barrow is now the potential captain in the previous paragraph and unfortunately ES is perhaps one knee injury or playing on a plastic pitch away from another serious injury.

When I used to look at the Glaws team sheet, I'd think "Oh :censored:, May & Sharples are playing", I don't think that Tigers had anyone other than TV, YBY or FB last year that might have made other teams think twice. JM does that for me. He is a world class winger, a finisher and at the level that we need to be recruiting or putting on the field. Whilst this is not an easy call, with a heavy heart this is the correct bigger picture decision in this swap.

We were 2 mins away from winning a semi final with a severely weakened back line, if we can keep this back line fit, especially centres being fed by GF's playing brain, that will ask Sarries, Wasps and Exeter some tough questions. I think this is looking like a top 2 team and WR becoming a fortress again. I hope we see this potential come to reality. I love MOC's revolution, I think it was needed and can't wait for this season.

[JP14]

May and Ford will give the Tigers another edge

+1

When I used to look at the Glaws team sheet, I'd think "Oh , May & Sharples are playing", I don't think that Tigers had anyone other than TV, YBY or FB last year that might have made other teams think twice. JM does that for me. He is a world class winger, a finisher and at the level that we need to be recruiting or putting on the field. Whilst this is not an easy call, with a heavy heart this is the correct bigger picture decision in this swap.

We were 2 mins away from winning a semi final with a severely weakened back line, if we can keep this back line fit, especially centres being fed by GF's playing brain, that will ask Sarries, Wasps and Exeter some tough questions. I think this is looking like a top 2 team and WR becoming a fortress again. I hope we see this potential come to reality. I love MOC's revolution, I think it was needed and can't wait for this season.

Absolutely agree with u and fingers cross I hope for a return to the Top 2 as well. I also hope that we give academy lads a chance too. I hope Barrow will get international recognition this season and Williams his first cap too.

[BFG]

No doubt May is a very good signing.
Letting Slater go is a calculated gamble, he could be a very good signing for Gloucester or not, same with them all, if he stays fit then he will be a great signing for them and it'll be what might've been for us.
I'd still like to see a world class lock brought in even before this deal, can't see us toppling Sarries up front over 80 minutes come next May, not even close.

[Chobbsy]

Why is every website reporting this apart from us?

[kpj tiger]

Why is every website reporting this apart from us?

There's a multitude of reasons why it might be like that, maybe nothing has been signed yet? Maybe they are waiting for another signature from another player so they can do another day of signings? Maybe one of the players has asked for the announcement to be delayed? (Pretty sure I read Jonny May is on his honeymoon atm)

[dunks43]

Why is every website reporting this apart from us?

Tigers and Gloucester havnt announced it , maybe because the contracts havnt been signed yet

[sam16111986]

Why is every website reporting this apart from us?

Tigers and Gloucester havnt announced it , maybe because the contracts havnt been signed yet

The medicals may have not been concluded either. I suspect Gloucester will want specialists to look at Slater's knees before completing the deal. The agents, lawyers et al will all need their cuts following the increasingly complex contract negotiations as well.

[doublecarpet]

May's been on/is on honeymoon so I imagine that's held it up.

[strawclearer]

May's been on/is on honeymoon so I imagine that's held it up.

What's been held up on his honeymoon?

Oh...I see...!