England international prop Ellis Genge has agreed new contract terms at Leicester Tigers.
Genge, 22, arrived at Tigers during the closing months of 2015/16, initially on loan before making the move from Bristol permanent at the start of this season.
Capped by England in the end-of-season fixture against Wales in 2016, he returned to the national squad preparing for the 2017 RBS 6 Nations and has been named in the tour party for this summer’s two-Test trip to Argentina.
After making his debut for Tigers against Wasps in March 2016, Genge firmly established himself in the squad this season and has now made 33 first-team appearances for the club.
Genge said: “Leicester Tigers is a club with a lot of success and a big history. There is a big emphasis on the front row here and if you look at the list of international players, the Tigers have probably had as many front-rowers there as any club.
“I came here to develop as a player and I feel I have come on a lot since I joined the club. I’ve been learning all the time working with people like Marcos Ayerza, Dan Cole and now Boris Stankovich.
“I just want to play rugby and I am enjoying it at Tigers. It’s great to play at Welford Road with crowds over 20,000 every week.”
Tigers head coach Matt O’Connor added: “Ellis has made a big impact in his time here and he is making progress all the time. He is still a young man, especially in prop terms, but his all-round game continues to improve and he is in the right place to develop with the staff and senior players around him.
“Marcos Ayerza has just confirmed his retirement and we think Ellis has a lot of similar characteristics and traits about his game, and with the right mentoring he can go on to have a huge career in the game.”
Genge, 22, arrived at Tigers during the closing months of 2015/16, initially on loan before making the move from Bristol permanent at the start of this season.
Capped by England in the end-of-season fixture against Wales in 2016, he returned to the national squad preparing for the 2017 RBS 6 Nations and has been named in the tour party for this summer’s two-Test trip to Argentina.
After making his debut for Tigers against Wasps in March 2016, Genge firmly established himself in the squad this season and has now made 33 first-team appearances for the club.
Genge said: “Leicester Tigers is a club with a lot of success and a big history. There is a big emphasis on the front row here and if you look at the list of international players, the Tigers have probably had as many front-rowers there as any club.
“I came here to develop as a player and I feel I have come on a lot since I joined the club. I’ve been learning all the time working with people like Marcos Ayerza, Dan Cole and now Boris Stankovich.
“I just want to play rugby and I am enjoying it at Tigers. It’s great to play at Welford Road with crowds over 20,000 every week.”
Tigers head coach Matt O’Connor added: “Ellis has made a big impact in his time here and he is making progress all the time. He is still a young man, especially in prop terms, but his all-round game continues to improve and he is in the right place to develop with the staff and senior players around him.
“Marcos Ayerza has just confirmed his retirement and we think Ellis has a lot of similar characteristics and traits about his game, and with the right mentoring he can go on to have a huge career in the game.”
