"Multiple internationals" - Six players departing Leicester Tigers

The departures will present both challenges and opportunities for Tigers as they look to rebuild and continue their pursuit of success on the pitch.

Saracens, who are currently leading the Premiership, have secured the signing of Tom West from Leicester Tigers for the next season.

The 27-year-old loose-head prop has already made nine appearances in all competitions for the Tigers since joining them in January. West previously played for Wasps, where he spent over a decade, having come through the club's academy before making his league debut in 2018.

He was also part of the England team that won the World Under-20 Championship in 2016. West started in Wasps' Premiership final loss to Exeter Chiefs in 2020.

will retire at the conclusion of the 2022/23 season after an 18-year career as a professional in both rugby union and rugby league.

The Leicester Tigers outside-back has, to date, made 25 appearances for the club after joining midway through the 2021/22 campaign.

Prior to joining Tigers, Ashton played for Wigan Warriors (rugby league) and Northampton Saints, Saracens, Toulon, Sale Sharks, Harlequins and Worcester Warriors (rugby union), as well as representing England in both codes and the Barbarians.

One of the most prolific try-scorers in the history of rugby union, Ashton is the record try-scorer in the Gallagher Premiership (98) and Heineken Champions Cup (41) competitions.

To date, he has won three Premierships, two Heineken Champions Cups and one European Challenge Cup.

His professional career began in 2005 when he debuted for Wigan, as an 18-year-old, and scored two tries in his first appearance.

Ashton made more than 50 appearances for the Super League club, and represented England in rugby league, before switching to rugby union to join Northampton.

In 2010, he made his England Rugby Test debut and went on to represent his country on 44 occasions, scoring 20 international tries.

He will join Bristol Bears ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The 23-year-old former Wasps number nine, who joined Leicester Tigers on a short-term deal in January, has made 32 appearances in the Gallagher Premiership.

Wolstenholme attended Oakham School before furthering his studies at Loughborough University, while still a member of the Yorkshire Academy, and spent time on loan with Hull Ioanians while playing for Carnegie.

Director of Rugby, Pat Lam, said: “I’m really pleased to be able to bring someone of Sam’s quality and experience to the Bears. As another young English player with huge ambition and desire to succeed, he will fit into our group perfectly.

“Competition is vital within the squad for us to grow and I believe we have genuine competition at scrum half for next season, with Sam, Harry Randall, Kieran Marmion and Oscar Lennon all competing for selection.”

Wolstenholme said: “I’m really looking forward to joining Bristol Bears. They’re a club with exciting players, great facilities and play a good brand of rugby. I’m excited to see what next season brings.”

Connacht have signed the Irish-qualified number 8 Sean Jansen from the Leicester Tigers.

23 years old and originally from Dunedin in New Zealand, Jansen joined the reigning Gallagher Premiership champions in January 2022 from the Otago Rugby Football Union. He has featured 15 times for the club, predominately at number 8 but can also play across the back row.

A powerful ball-carrier, Jansen has scored 5 tries during his spell at Leicester and has made 3 appearances so far in this season’s Heineken Champions Cup.

Having grown up in New Zealand, Jansen attended Otago Boys High and played junior rugby with North Island RFC, representing North Otago. In 2021, prior to joining the Leicester Tigers, he was named Otago’s Development Forward of the Year.

Jansen has signed a two-year deal and qualifies for Ireland through his grandparents who were born in Monasterevin and Belfast.

Commenting on the signing, Head Coach Pete Wilkins says:

The lock will leave the club at the conclusion of the 2022/23 campaign to join Benetton Rugby.

The 27-year-old has made 34 appearances to date since arriving in the East Midlands ahead of the 2021/22 season.

Born in Zimbabwe, Snyman represented the Springboks Under-20s in 2016 before making his Currie Cup debut for the Bulls in the same season.

His Super Rugby debut came in 2019, for The Bulls, before signing with Treviso ahead of the 2019/20 European season.

Speaking about Snyman, Leicester Tigers Interim Head Coach Richard Wigglesworth said: "Eli has been a big part of the Leicester pack during these past two seasons, playing a key role both on the pitch and as a leader for the young players in his position."

"I enjoyed the opportunity to play alongside Eli last season and for the first part of this season and equally so the chance to have coached him during that time.

"He's been a great contributor to Leicester Tigers and we thank him for that, as well as wishing him all the best for the next stage of his career back in Italy with Benetton."

f Anthony Watson chooses to remain in the Premiership and continue his Test career next season, Saracens are being considered as a potential option for him. 

Castres, a team in France’s Top 14 league, had previously been the favourite to sign Watson. However, if he moves across the Channel, his international career would be over following the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Furthermore, it has been reported by Telegraph Sport that Billy Vunipola, who was being pursued by clubs in Japan and France, is now expected to stay with Saracens for the 2023-4 season.

However, with a tighter salary cap in place in the Premiership, retaining both Watson and Vunipola, as well as the arrival of Tom Willis from Union Bordeaux Begles, will have implications for Saracens.

It is possible that as a result, veteran players such as Sean Maitland, Duncan Taylor, and Jackson Wray, who are beloved by the club, may depart this summer.