Leicester Tigers will say farewell to scrum coach Boris Stankovich ahead of the squad’s return to pre-season training later this month.
Stankovich, who made more than 100 appearances for Tigers during seven years as a player in Leicester, returned to the club midway through the 2016/17 season on a short-term contract before taking on a full-time role as scrum coach ahead of the 2017/18 campaign.
The former Tigers front-rower first joined the club in 2007 and played a part in three successful Premiership campaigns and an Anglo-Welsh Cup win in 2012 before departing in 2014.
In 2017, following a restructure of the club’s coaching team, Stankovich returned after a brief stint with Coventry Rugby as a player/coach.
During his time as a member of the Tigers coaching team, Stankovich oversaw the club’s scrum programme at senior and academy levels.
In 2019, Stankovich was a member of Canada’s coaching team at the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Looking back on his time at Tigers, Stankovich said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the entire Leicester Tigers club, staff, players and supporters, for what can only be described as some of the very best moments in my life representing such a wonderful club.”
“I would like to acknowledge our Chairman Peter Tom and the great support he has shown me from the moment I arrived.
“And, Director of Rugby Geordan Murphy for his help not only in a coaching capacity and former team mate but as a great friend.
“Lastly, I would like to wish Steve Borthwick and the rest of our coaching team along with all of the players the very best of luck for the forthcoming season.
“Thank you, to everyone.”
Chairman Peter Tom thanked Stankovich for his contribution to Leicester Tigers during his second stint in Leicester as a coach.
“Boris arrived back in Leicester in the final months of our 2016/17 season and immediately went about making a mark on our scrum and forward pack,” said Tom.
“He is not someone who seeks the spotlight and rather, enjoys going about his business every day of improving players and people around him.
“His contribution to our scrum, at all levels, cannot be ignored and on behalf of everyone at Leicester Tigers, I thank him for his hard work and passion for our club and wish him, his wife and children the very best in future endeavours.”
Tigers Director of Rugby Geordan Murphy added: “I had the pleasure of playing alongside Boris, before working with him as part of the coaching team in Leicester and thank him for all that he has contributed to Tigers over many years.”
“His hard work and commitment to our scrum has been tremendous and, on behalf of everyone at Tigers and all of our supporters, we are extremely grateful for everything Boris has done for this club.
“While he has been the driving force behind our scrum at the top level since returning in 2017, Boris has also played a significant role across all levels at Tigers and contributed to the success of our Academy programme and development of many, many youngsters during that time.
“We wish him and his family all the best in their next chapter.”
The club has begun the process to find a replacement scrum coach and, in the interim, Head Coach Steve Borthwick will take on the role.
