Leicester Tigers will welcome Australia international Blake Enever to the club after agreeing a deal with the second-rower.
The 28-year-old Enever has made more than 50 Super Rugby appearances since his debut in 2012 for then-champions, the Queensland Reds, before moving to Canberra to join the ACT Brumbies in 2015.
After a string of consistent performances, Enever was called up to the national squad and made his Test debut for the Wallabies in 2017 against England at Twickenham.
“I want to be a part of the core group that get Tigers back to where they should be and know that will only come with hard work from everybody on and off the pitch"
Blake Enever
A hard-nosed, physical forward, capable of playing at both lock and in the back row, the 6ft 5in and 116kg Enever adds important depth to the Tigers pack and experience at the set-piece.
Speaking about the Australian’s move, Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy said: “Blake is a strong addition to the club ahead of the new season and brings with him a wealth of experience from Super Rugby.
“He’s a big, physical and hard-working player, which is what we want in our pack, and someone our fans should be thrilled to see joining the club.
“A big, tall line-out caller and strong, physical addition the scrum, who enjoys the hard stuff in the game in both attack and defence … it’s what you want in a lock!
“In our dealings with Blake so far we have been impressed by him as a young man who will add much more than what he offers on the pitch to our club and that is important to us as we move forward on our journey.”
Enever said the opportunity to join Tigers at this time was an “exciting prospect”.
“Coming over to the UK and being a part of Premiership rugby while representing a club of Leicester’s standing is an exciting prospect,” he said.
“Tigers has proven to be one of the strongest clubs in the UK and the opportunity to be a part of a club like Leicester is great.”
The Australia international is also aware that the tough work begins now and hopes to be able to add to the club as part of the new-look Tigers in the early stages of this journey.
“Coming over, I am completely committed to the club and will give my all,” he added.
“They have given me an opportunity and I want to repay that. I am not coming over to just fulfil contracted duties, I will be doing everything I can to add to the club, and go above and beyond for Tigers.
“I want to be a part of the core group that get Tigers back to where they should be and know that will only come with hard work from everybody on and off the pitch.”
Enever joins Cyle Brink, Shalva Mamukashvili, Cameron Henderson and Oliver Chessum as additions to the forward pack, with Nemani Nadolo, Matt Scott, Harry Potter and Zack Henry all added to the Tigers backline options.
