Leicester Tigers will welcome Tom Horton to the club on a short-term contract ahead of the 2022/23 season.
The Australian hooker joins Leicester from Super Rugby side, NSW Waratahs.
Horton played his junior rugby in Mosman, on Sydney’s northern beaches, and was schooled at rugby nursery St Joseph’s College before joining Sydney University in 2016.
The front-rower enjoyed success in Colts rugby before making the step up to senior rugby in 2018, where he won back-to-back Shute Shield titles alongside now Tigers team-mates Guy Porter and Harry Potter.
Horton was selected to represent the NSW Country Eagles in Australia’s National Rugby Championship during the 2018 and 2019 campaigns.
In 2020, Horton made his Super Rugby debut for the Waratahs and was called into the Wallabies squad during the Rugby Championship later that season.
Speaking about the addition of Horton, Leicester Tigers Head Coach Steve Borthwick said: “Tom is a young man with experience in Super Rugby, who is hungry to learn, to improve and to grow as a player, which we are looking forward to seeing him do at Leicester Tigers.”
“He is tough, hard-working and someone we think will be a good addition to our front-row ranks and the club.
“Tom is very keen on being a part of what we are doing at Leicester Tigers end experiencing Premiership and European rugby, which we are pleased that he will be doing at our club.”
Discussing the move to Tigers, Horton said: “This is an unbelievable chance to learn from and play with and against some of the world’s best players, of which I am excited about.”
“Leicester Tigers is a club that is respected around the world and I am looking forward to the opportunity of being a part of this group and hopefully contributing, while developing as a player and gaining a whole different life experience.
“In the conversations I have had with Steve he has explained that I need to be ready to work hard.
“Both Guy [Porter] and Harry [Potter] have said how passionate the supporter base is and how much they get around the side and play a part in what Leicester Tigers is about. I am excited to experience that.”
TOM HORTON
Position: Hooker
Birthplace: Sydney, Australia
Date of birth: 18/4/1997
Teams: Sydney University, NSW Country, NSW Waratahs
