Leicester Tigers have agreed a new deal with Freddie Steward beyond the 2022/23 season.
The full-back graduated from the Tigers Academy ahead of the 2019/20 campaign after winning back-to-back titles in the Under-18 League.
Freddie made his senior club debut in January 2019 away to Northampton Saints in the Premiership Rugby Cup while still a member of the Tigers Academy.
Born and raised in Norfolk, Steward has represented England at Under-18 and Under-20 age grade levels.
He made his Premiership and European debuts during the 2019/20 season, which included 10 appearances, before more than doubling his senior appearances in the 2020/21 campaign.
After starting in the European Challenge Cup Final at Twickenham against Montpellier in the final weeks of the 2020/21 season, Steward made his Test debut for England in July 2021 against USA at Twickenham.
The 21-year-old made 21 appearances during the club’s league-winning 2021/22 campaign and started the Gallagher Premiership Final win over Saracens.
Steward was voted the Rugby Players' Association Young Player of the Year and England Men's Player of the Season at the conclusion of the 2021/22 season, before starting all three Tests on the tour of Australia.
In his first outing of the current campaign, away to Northampton Saints last weekend, Steward scored a hat-trick and made his 50th starting appearance - and 57th overall appearance - for the club.
Speaking about Steward, Leicester Tigers Head Coach Steve Borthwick said: “Freddie is a very talented player, who has worked incredibly hard to be at the level he is at by such a young age.”
“He is a leader in our group, who offers so much on and off the field to Leicester Tigers and has so much growth in his game of which I am excited to see him continue at the club.
“His character and his courage shine through in the way that he looks for ways to get better, every single day, and his want to continually take on new challenges.
“Freddie is a proud Leicester player, who understands the club very well and the privilege of representing Tigers.”
Discussing his new deal, Steward added: “As someone who grew up as a Leicester Tigers fan and then came through the Academy, this club means so much to me and I feel privileged to be able to continue representing it.”
“This group is a pretty special one and includes a lot of guys I have grown up with and come through with, which I want to keep doing and want to do for Leicester Tigers for a long time together.
“There is a very rich history at the club, which is incredible, and you add the best support in the country to that and you realise how special this place is and what we are all a part of at Leicester Tigers.
“We have got incredible players and incredible coaches here, but just as much we have got incredible people who all want to work hard together to keep improving and keep being successful.
“I am excited for the opportunity we have at this club, with the people we have here, to see what we can do if we continue to work hard, together, and push one another. The sky is the limit.”
FREDDIE STEWARD
Position: Full-back
Date of birth: December 5, 2000
Leicester Tigers debut: January 26, 2019
Leicester Tigers appearances: 57
Honours: England Under-18, England Under-20, England
