Leicester Tigers will welcome Jimmy Gopperth to the club ahead of the 2022/23 season.
The versatile back will join Leicester from Wasps.
Capable of playing at fly-half, centre or full-back, Gopperth sits in fourth place on the Premiership’s all-time points-scorer list and has made almost 200 appearances in the English top flight.
Born in New Zealand, Gopperth was selected to represent Wellington’s provincial team in 2003 after impressing for Old Boys University, before signing with Super Rugby side the Hurricanes in 2005.
He represented New Zealand Under-21 and the Junior All Blacks before moving to Auckland in 2008 and represented North Harbour and The Blues in Super Rugby before moving to the northern hemisphere in 2009 to join Newcastle Falcons.
After more than 100 appearances for Newcastle, he joined Leinster Rugby for two seasons and returned to the Premiership with Wasps in 2015.
Gopperth has won both the Premiership Player of the Year and RPA Players' Player of the Year awards, as well as the Golden Boot in 2016/17 as the league’s top points-scorer.
Speaking about the addition of Gopperth, Leicester Tigers Head Coach Steve Borthwick said: “Jimmy has shown for a number of years in some of the world’s most competitive and tough environments that he is a world-class player.
“A prolific points-scorer capable of playing in various positions, he not only adds valuable depth to our squad but an incredible amount of experience and knowledge.
“Jimmy is a proven leader and someone who makes the players around him better. We are excited that he wants to be part of what we are building at Leicester Tigers.”
Discussing the move to Tigers, Gopperth said: “Leicester Tigers is one of the most historic clubs in the world, with one of the biggest fanbases.
“Whenever you turn up to Mattioli Woods Welford Road, you know you are in for a hell of a game and there is just something special about it that you don’t get anywhere else. I am looking forward to have the chance to experience that as a Tigers player.
“You can see how Steve is bringing this group together to, ultimately, win things and that is what I am determined to do. I want to win, but I want to push myself and keep developing as a player, which I think I can do in Leicester.
“I am really excited to better myself as a player and person, so I can contribute to the Tigers squad.”
