After a decade as Leicester Tigers Academy Manager, Dave Wilks will vacate the role in the summer to join Global Partner Club KL Tigers as Director of Rugby.

Based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the KL Tigers was formed in 2014 and is home to more than 500 players across all of its playing groups and were the first official Global Partner Club of Leicester Tigers. 

Wilks has overseen the Academy programme since 2015 and, in that time, helped to develop the young talent at the club including current internationals Joe Heyes, George Martin, Jack van Poortvliet, Tommy Reffell and Freddie Steward, as well as former Leicester players Sam Costelow and Ben White alongside many more plying their trade in the Gallagher Premiership and beyond.

During his tenure, he has also helped to develop current senior coaches and backroom staff including Brett Deacon and Matt Smith, as well as current England assistant and former Tigers coach Tom Harrison.

The Tigers Academy have won three Premiership Rugby Under-18 League titles under Wilks and, off the field, he founded the existing ACE College Partnerships with Brooksby College, Coventry College and Loughborough College in addition to the partnerships with Stamford School, Oakham School, Denstone College and Loughborough University, which provide education opportunities for the young players alongside their rugby commitments.

Speaking about his time at the club, Wilks said: “I feel privileged to have worked at Tigers for the last decade, I have learnt so much from the club and some amazing people along the way. When I was asked to come to Tigers it was my dream job, and it still is, but the time is right for me to step away and start this new chapter with my family abroad.”

“The Academy has strong foundations and I will do everything I can between now and the end of the season to ensure our success continues into the future.

“I am excited about not only the life experience this move offers myself and my family but also the opportunity to work with KL Tigers and the team out there in Malaysia, while remaining connected to Leicester Tigers through the Global Partner programme.”

Leicester Tigers Chief Executive Officer Andrea Pinchen added: “Our Academy and the pathway programme at Leicester Tigers is a world class operation of which Dave has driven to that standard during his time at the club.”

“He leaves behind a legacy of not only some of the game’s best young talent, some that are well established as international stars, but also an incredible amount of young men with excellent character that he helped to instil in their days as part of the Tigers Academy. Like the players, there are so many coaches and staff at our organisation and littered throughout others and even other sports, that spent their foundation years under his guidance.

“While we are sad to see him go, we are excited for him and his family for their next chapter, very pleased to continue the relationship with him through KL Tigers and know that the work being done in Malaysia will only improve through his addition.

“On behalf of everybody at the club, I want to express my gratitude to Dave and his family for all that he and they have given to the club during the past decade and wish them well in this new adventure.” 

Joe Heyes, George Martin, Jack van Poortvliet, Tommy Reffell and Freddie Steward, who have all gone on to Premiership success and international honours since graduating from the Tigers Academy, paid tribute to Wilks and his impact during the formative years of their careers

Heyes: “He was an unbelievable coach for me as a youngster, and his results with the Academy completely back that up. Me and my family are forever grateful of the guidance and understanding he showed me when I first struggled moving away from home to join the Academy.”

Martin: “Dave has been brilliant for me throughout his time at Leicester. He helped me to understand what professional rugby is all about and I am forever grateful for all his hard work over the years.”

van Poortvliet: “Dave played a huge role in mine and all the young boys journey through Academy and into the first team, helping us become better rugby players but more importantly better people. He's a great bloke that will be missed and I wish him all the very best for whatever is next.”

Reffell: “Dave was there from day one for me, has always supported me and was so important in helping me understand what it takes to be a professional and a good teammate. I’m really grateful to him for all he did for me and has done for this club.”

Steward: “Dave was an enormous part of my development through the age groups and is a huge part of the Academy’s success. I’m very grateful for his mentorship and his unwavering commitment to the club.”

The club has begun the recruitment process to replace Wilks who will vacate the role in the summer ahead of joining KL Tigers.