LEICESTER TIGERS 2023/24 - KANGAROO MCKELLER: Do you come from a land down under? (Squad thread pt 2)

[RagingBull]

Board of Directors
Chairman: Peter Tom CBE
CEO: Andrea Pinchen
Non-Exec: Petar Cvetkovic
Non-Exec: Fintan Kennedy
Non-Exec: Tom Scott

LEICESTER TIGERS COACHING TEAM
Head Coach: Dan McKeller
Head of Senior recruitment: Richard Wilks
Defence Coach: Matt Everard
Attack Coach: Matt Smith (Alan Dickens on gardening leave)
Set Piece Coach: Dan Palmer
Assistant Forwards: Brett Deacon
Kicking and Skills coach: Alex Smith (Head coach of Midlands Central Academys)
Forwards transition Coach: Neil Fowkes
Head of Physical Performance: Ollie Richardson
Head of Medical: Joe Barton
Senior Performance Analyst: Matt Egan
Team Manager: Tessa Carrington
Academy Manager: Dave Wilks
Lead Academy Coach: Geraint Davies
Junior Academy Manager: George Glenn

Senior Players:
Hooker: Clare, Dolly, Montoya,
Props: Cole, Cronin, Heyes, Hurd, Richardson, Van Wyk, Whitcombe,
Locks: Carter, O.Chessum, Henderson, Martin, Wells,
Back Row: Cracknell, Hatherall, Liebenberg, Reffell, Rogerson, Wiese
Scrum Half: van Poortvliet, Whiteley, Youngs
Fly Half: Pollard, Shillcock, Wilkinson
Centre: Cokanasiga, Kata, Kelly, Porter, Scott,
Winger: Bassett, Hassell-Collins, Simmons, Watson
Full Back: Brown, Steward

Rumoured IN
Luan de Brun (Edinburgh)
Cabous Eloff (Rebels)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter)

Rumoured OUT


Confirmed IN
Crone Beet (Stormers)
Nicky Smith (Ospreys)
Izaia Perese (Waratahs)

Confirmed OUT
Jasper Wiese (N/A)
Sam Carter (Force)
Phil Cokanasiga (Ospreys)
Nic Dolly,
Guy Porter
Dan Richardson
Matt Scott
Francois van Wyk

Renewals/Signings (Courtesy of @TigerFeetSteve who created a great list)
2023/24: Watson, Martin, Heyes, Youngs, Brown, Whiteley, Cronin, Simmons, Liebenberg
2022/23: Whitcombe, Wells, Porter, Montoya, Hurd, Chessum, JVP, Henderson, Steward, Richardson, Kelly, Cole, Clare
2021/22: Reffell (Rumoured rolling contract)

Signings:
2023/24 Start: FTT, Hatherall, Shillcock, Bassett, Hassel-Collins, Wilkinson, Carter, Kata, Rogerson,
2022/23 Start: Pollard, Cracknell, Cokanasiga,
2021/22 Start: Van Wyk

Development Squad
[Loosehead: Miell, Van Der Flier
Hooker: Clarke, Smith, Theobald-Thomas, Vanes
Tighthead: Crane, Hoyt, Mountford
Locks: L.Chessum, T.Manz, Thomas
Blindside: Carnduff, J.Manz
Openside: Ilione, Beddall, Perkins
Number 8: Koroiyadi, Williams
Scrum Half: Allen, Edwards
Fly Half: Meredith, Daniels,
Centre: Cusick, Davies, Woodward, Myall,
Wings: Kinder, Satala
Full Back: Gourlay

Rumoured OUT
Sam Edwards (Bristol)
Simon Koroiyardi (Ealing)
Jacob Cusick (Ealing)

[Leicestertinytiger]

Waisea Nayacalevu was rumoured in too wasn’t he?

[TigerFeetSteve]

Great work as always RB, thanks for the hat tip too!!
Added my full list with dates here:
Have colour coded the players so you can easily see which season they signed their last contract in.
Current Season (23/24)
Last Season (22/23)
21/22 Season
20/21 Season & before


Izaia Perese - 21/03/24 signed
Nicky Smith - 20/03/24 signed
Corné Beets - 19/03/24 signed
Hanro Liebenberg - 07/03/24 re-signed
Harry Simmons - 07/03/24 re-signed
James Cronin - 07/03/24 re-signed
Tom Whiteley - 07/03/24 re-signed
Mike Brown - 05/01/24 re-signed
Ben Youngs - 21/12/23 re-signed
Joe Heyes - 21/12/23 re-signed
George Martin - 21/12/23 re-signed
Anthony Watson - 02/11/23 signed
Matt Rogerson - 04/07/23 signed
Kieran Wilkinson - 04/07/23 signed
Solomone Kata - 25/05/23 signed
Ollie Hassell-Collins - 28/03/23 signed
Cam Henderson - 28/03/23 re-signed
Josh Bassett - 25/01/23 signed
Kyle Hatherall - 25/01/23 signed
Jamie Shillcock - 25/01/23 signed
Finn Theobald-Thomas- 25/01/23 signed
Charlie Clare - 24/01/23 re-signed
Dan Cole - 24/01/23 re-signed
Dan Kelly - 24/01/23 re-signed
Dan Richardson - CONFIRMED LEAVING
Freddie Steward - 28/09/22 re-signed
Jack Van Poortvliet - 28/09/22 re-signed
Ollie Chessum - 18/08/22 re-signed
Will Hurd - 18/08/22 re-signed
Julián Montoya -18/08/22 re-signed
Guy Porter - CONFIRMED LEAVING
Harry Wells - 18/08/22 re-signed
James Whitcombe - 18/08/22 resigned
Phil Cokansigna - CONFIRMED LEAVING
Olly Cracknell - 12/05/22 signed
Nic Dolly - CONFIRMED LEAVING
Matt Scott - CONFIRMED LEAVING
Handrè Pollard - 07/12/21 signed
Francois Van Wyk - CONFIRMED LEAVING
Jasper Wiese - CONFIRMED LEAVING
Tommy Reffell - 06/07/20 re-signed (rumored rolling long term)


Senior Academy

Fifth Season
Tom Manz - extended 23/01/23

Fourth Season
Sam Edwards - CONFIRMED LEAVING
Emeka Ilione - extended 23/01/23
Archie Vanes - extended 23/01/23

Third Season
Lewis Chessum - extended 18/08/22
Jacob Cusick - CONFIRMED LEAVING
Tim Hoyt - extended 23/01/23
Seb Smith

Second Season
Finn Carnduff
Oliver Crane - CONFIRMED LEAVING
George Daniels
Simon Koroiyadi - CONFIRMED LEAVING
Josh Manz
Morgan Meredith - CONFIRMED LEAVING
Cameron Miell
Joe Woodward - extended 23/01/23

First Season
Ollie Allan
Harry Beddall
Harry Clarke
Charlie Davies
Elliott Gourlay
Jack Kinder
Henry Mountford
Charlie Myall
George Perkins
Malelili Satala
Osian Thomas
Sam Williams
Archie Van De Flier

[kpj tiger]

Have just watched the Saints vs Stormers friendly highlights and Keke Morabe scored an excellent solo try that was a bit Jasper-esque. Would certainly hope he's one the club are looking at

[RunTigerRun]

Have just watched the Saints vs Stormers friendly highlights and Keke Morabe scored an excellent solo try that was a bit Jasper-esque. Would certainly hope he's one the club are looking at

If I remember rightly KPJ, didn’t Morabe score a good try against us in the Champions Cup game at WR? He also looked strong in a ‘weaker’ Stormers team. Wouldn’t be against another more unhearalded option like Wiese was!

[Rugbygramps]

Have just watched the Saints vs Stormers friendly highlights and Keke Morabe scored an excellent solo try that was a bit Jasper-esque. Would certainly hope he's one the club are looking at

If I remember rightly KPJ, didn’t Morabe score a good try against us in the Champions Cup game at WR? He also looked strong in a ‘weaker’ Stormers team. Wouldn’t be against another more unhearalded option like Wiese was!

He was the 8 who scored I believe and I think that performance saw him play more in the Stormers first pick. Young lad ex Bok u20 I believe

[RunTigerRun]

Have just watched the Saints vs Stormers friendly highlights and Keke Morabe scored an excellent solo try that was a bit Jasper-esque. Would certainly hope he's one the club are looking at

If I remember rightly KPJ, didn’t Morabe score a good try against us in the Champions Cup game at WR? He also looked strong in a ‘weaker’ Stormers team. Wouldn’t be against another more unhearalded option like Wiese was!

He was the 8 who scored I believe and I think that performance saw him play more in the Stormers first pick. Young lad ex Bok u20 I believe

With him and Roos in the Stormers back pack alongside Daiymani (apologies for the terrible spelling) then perhaps there’s room to tempt someone for more game time at Tigers?

[kpj tiger]

Here's the link for those who haven't seen it

https://youtu.be/w5yRToxmvZs?si=-grqvYhu3AsZ3RjZ&t=149

[longlivethecrumbie]

Fissler reporting that West is being targeted by Saints, among other things: https://www.rugbypass.com/news/fissler- ... -in-talks/

[sk 88]

Fissler reporting Quins are attempting to "gazzump" us for Pereise.

More concerningly he states "The Tigers, who have met with several players from the Premiership, United Rugby Championship and Super Rugby, are yet to get a deal across the line."

Now perhaps I'm guilty of over reading & he only means literally the Pereise deal (Fissler is a big fan of vague wording that doesn't quite say what people think) but I'm reading that as us having not signed anyone new for next season yet. Which would be leaving things until quite late in the day.

[fentiger]

Fissler reporting Quins are attempting to "gazzump" us for Pereise.

More concerningly he states "The Tigers, who have met with several players from the Premiership, United Rugby Championship and Super Rugby, are yet to get a deal across the line."

Now perhaps I'm guilty of over reading & he only means literally the Pereise deal (Fissler is a big fan of vague wording that doesn't quite say what people think) but I'm reading that as us having not signed anyone new for next season yet. Which would be leaving things until quite late in the day.

I'd go for a bucket of salt with Fissler!

[RagingBull]

Fissler reporting Quins are attempting to "gazzump" us for Pereise.

More concerningly he states "The Tigers, who have met with several players from the Premiership, United Rugby Championship and Super Rugby, are yet to get a deal across the line."

Now perhaps I'm guilty of over reading & he only means literally the Pereise deal (Fissler is a big fan of vague wording that doesn't quite say what people think) but I'm reading that as us having not signed anyone new for next season yet. Which would be leaving things until quite late in the day.

I read the article it doesn't say anything really
Says Quins have launched a last bid attempt to snatch him from us, but then also doesn't actually say tigers have put a contract across just talks.
He says that we lost out on the race to sign Sam sprink to Sarries, BUT he never even linked Sprink with Sarries until the Telegraph broke it. He was saying Us, Exeter and Sale all had talks .

Fissler is having to write daily stories now for Rugbypass so I feel his "sources" are going to be even thinner. I'll post them on the main post just because without it nothing would be in it.

But since Cohen, Glynn and Tuilagi have gone I don't think Fissler gets any information from Tigers side now.
I would be amazed if we haven't signed a player, It's more plausible that no one at Tigers is confirming anything with him though,

[TigerFeetSteve]

I would be astounded if we hadn't sorted some of our signings.

Between rumours around Scott and Porter, plus Cokanasiga being out of contract we certainly would be talking to centre.

We have on the forum some connected people saying we have 2 centres incoming, we also have our CEO publicly saying we're almost there on recruitment. Doubt she'd be saying that unless we've at least got a few incoming

[AViewFromLe2]

Fissler's sources with Tigers have changed but not in the way you think. Steve and the club used to take prospective players or coaches to the Costa Coffee in Oadby for a debrief after they had visited Oval Park. Only problem with that is there used to be someone working at the Costa who knew their rugby, so would tell Fissler for extra cash on the side. It's how Fissler broke us signing Ashton, and it's how he got the front page last year about Gregor Townsend joining Tigers.

Apparently Gregor visited Oval Park early on the Saturday morning after the Clermont away game last season, and went with someone from the club to the Costa afterwards. The next day Fissler got the front page in the Rugby Paper that Townsend was seriously in the running for the Tigers job.

Now either the person has left Costa or the the club have stopped taking people there, but it is one of the reasons i suspect why Fissler is struggling to get stuff out of the club.

[TigerFeetSteve]

Fissler's sources with Tigers have changed but not in the way you think. Steve and the club used to take prospective players or coaches to the Costa Coffee in Oadby for a debrief after they had visited Oval Park. Only problem with that is there used to be someone working at the Costa who knew their rugby, so would tell Fissler for extra cash on the side. It's how Fissler broke us signing Ashton, and it's how he got the front page last year about Gregor Townsend joining Tigers.

Apparently Gregor visited Oval Park early on the Saturday morning after the Clermont away game last season, and went with someone from the club to the Costa afterwards. The next day Fissler got the front page in the Rugby Paper that Townsend was seriously in the running for the Tigers job.

Now either the person has left Costa or the the club have stopped taking people there, but it is one of the reasons i suspect why Fissler is struggling to get stuff out of the club.

Amazing what a new coffee machine at Oval Park could do lol