Leicester Tigers can confirm the signings of Tami Agboola, Caitlin Clark, Maddie Massey, Sydney Mead and Amy Orrow ahead of the 2023/24 season.
The five have competed across the top two divisions of women’s rugby and will add valuable experience and incredible potential in equal measure.
Ahead of the team’s first-ever Premiership squad announcement tomorrow, on Friday, June 30, the five represent further depth across key positions.
Maddie Massey is a name that may be most familiar to Tigers fans, captaining the Cheltenham Tigers team that defeated Leicester Tigers and lifted the Championship play-off title. In a strange twist, the tall second row scored a great wingers finish out wide in the final but then it’s quite apropos for someone who has had an unconventional route into top level rugby.
The lock started out later than most, completely missing all junior age grade rugby due to her commitments to football; away from the oval ball, she still works with a spherical one, operating day to day as a BUCS National Football Development Manager.
Massey has represented the Midlands in the past, with a brief spell at Lichfield from 2016-17 sandwiched between two stints at Cheltenham Tigers. Becoming club captain from 2019 onwards, her reign as skipper coincided with incredible success for the South-West side, helping them to win back-to-back Championship play-off finals, in 2021/22 and 2022/23. A penchant for leadership, Massey has also captained Gloucestershire at county level for 2022/23.
Making the step-up to Premiership rugby, Massey is raring to go. “I’m most excited about the fans, it’s amazing to see how well the team is supported already! No one knows what to expect from the team and it’s a great opportunity to go and shake things up in the league. We have a big responsibility to play a positive and active part in the current tipping point of women’s rugby. I would love to see Leicester Tigers having a real influence on the sport’s journey”.
Another name Tigers fans may recognise is Tami Agboola. The wing is another who has competed on the hallowed turf at Mattioli Woods Welford Road whilst not wearing green, white and red, starting for Kenilworth Ladies in last year’s Championship North 1.
Agboola greatly impressed the coaching staff that day and her subsequent signing is indicative of the kind of young talent Leicester Tigers are looking to attract and then grow into Premiership talent, with equal parts incredible potential and a true burning passion for the sport
The speedster began her career at Buckingham RFC, playing for both them and Kenilworth at senior club level as well as Buckinghamshire and Warwickshire at county level and England South-West at regional level.
Upon signing with the club, Agboola was asked about her excitement of joining ahead of a debut Premiership Women’s Rugby season and the importance of growing the game. “Rugby has been a significant part of my life growing up. It is a game that has allowed me to play with and meet some amazing people.
I’m excited about joining Leicester Tigers as I’ll be playing alongside such talented women and experienced coaches. I think what is great about being a part of the club’s debut Premiership Women’s Rugby season is that the power is in our hands to create and define our own brand. We have nothing to lose but absolutely everything to gain.
The growth of women’s rugby currently is something that is encouraging to see. However, there is still a long way to go. I believe that everyone has a part to play in contributing to this growth and through increasing the visibility and knowledge of women’s rugby within ethnic groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in the sport is the role I aim to play”.
From two players excited to make the step up to three who bring valuable Premiership experience.
Caitlin Clark and Sydney Mead both join the club from Wasps and both are eager to continue to establish burgeoning careers within the elite level of women’s rugby.
Clark, firstly, is a player who has always been invested in the sport. Beginning her story at just five years old playing for Reading RFC’s Under-6’s, the prop continued her ascent through the age grades, whilst also representing Berkshire under-15s and under-18s at County level as well as representing her country with England under-18s.
Her senior career began at Worcester RFC, helping the team to promotion to Championship North 1 before leaving to join Wasps for the 2022/23 season.
The front rower is eager to continue her development in the midlands. “I’m excited to start a new journey with a new bunch of girls who share the same passion for rugby as me. I feel very privileged to be chosen to be part of the club’s debut season in the Premiership and hope to do the badge and supporters proud! I can’t wait to put 110% into this club and the surrounding community projects to help Tigers flourish as we all know it will”.
Mead, meanwhile, also made the move from the London area to Coventry but in different circumstances to Clark. Mead began in rugby aged 17, playing for London Scottish under-18s. Demonstrating evident talent, within six months the flanker had been snapped up by Wasps, playing for their development side.
Making the move north to Midlands neighbours Loughborough for University, Mead Loughborough in BUCS Super Rugby before last year signing to Wasps Women for 2022/23. Talking about the move to Tigers, she said “I’m excited to be part of this historic team and be part of their debut premiership journey. I believe we are going to add something unexpected to the league and shake it up! It’s integral to be part of the growing game of women sport, I’ll advocate for it more than anything”
Finally, Amy Orrow adds exceptional experience, both in the Premiership and in rugby as a whole. The No. 8 began her time in rugby in 2001, beginning at school at the age of 14. At the time, women’s rugby was nowhere near as accessible as it is today and there were no junior teams for her to play for, eventually managing to join a senior team once she turned 18.
A natural competitor, Orrow didn’t let her athletic talents go to waste with limited options in rugby, representing Lincolnshire at all age grades at county level as well as competing in the Discus, an event in which she was once ranked 6th in the UK at just 19 years old.
However, it was rugby that would prove the sport too difficult to resist. A dyed-in-the-wool Tigers fan since the age of 9, Orrow is now able to live the dream by joining the club for their maiden season in English rugby’s top flight. Away from the field, Orrow will move to the Midlands to serve in the Police, looking to replicate the success of another famous dual Tiger No. 8 and police officer, Dean Richards.
At senior level, Orrow has played for eight club sides as well as the Liverpool John Moors University; her career reached its highest level in 2019 when she would represent first DMP Sharks before moving to Sale Sharks in 2021.
With her dream move on the horizon, Orrow is buzzing to get going. “I have been a Tigers fan since I was 9 years old and now I have the opportunity to be part of making history at such a great rugby club! The great thing about being part of this team is the opportunity to play the style of rugby that truly reflects the ethos of Leicester Tigers. They have shown dedication, hard work and togetherness to get to this point and I’m very excited to get stuck in. I have played rugby for many years and for various teams; I hope my role will be to bring some experience, a level head and pull everyone together to utilise the strength and depth we have in our squad to set the club up for the years to come. Whoever is on that pitch will get my full support to do their absolute best on the day. I know I will have to keep up with the youngsters that’s for sure!”
Speaking about the new signings, Leicester Tigers Head of Women’s Rugby Vicky Macqueen said “With our first ever Premiership Women’s Rugby squad close to being finalised, I’m delighted with the quality of acquisitions. All five offer something different around the field and will bring great experience in some areas and exceptional potential in others. I look forward to seeing the impact they make and how they help the team compete in the top-flight”.
