Seb Atkinson has emerged as a potential target for last season’s PREM Rugby semi-finalists, Leicester Tigers.
RugbyPass reports that Leicester are considering a move for the England international centre as they look to strengthen their midfield options.
Atkinson made his England debut against Argentina last summer and has since gone on to win seven caps under Steve Borthwick. His form for Gloucester has now reportedly attracted interest from several clubs.
The Daily Mail reported last week that Harlequins and Saracens are also interested in the 24-year-old.
Atkinson’s girlfriend already works in London, while both clubs could be looking to add depth at inside centre depending on the development of Bryn Bradley and Olly Hartley.
RUCK understands that Harlequins are currently leading the race for his signature.
However, no deal has been completed and Gloucester are likely to do everything they can to keep hold of one of their key players.
Atkinson has been with Gloucester since 2022, joining the Cherry and Whites after the collapse of Worcester Warriors.
He has quickly established himself as one of the standout performers at Kingsholm, with his club form eventually earning him an opportunity at Test level with England.
His performances on the pitch are not the only thing that have made him stand out, either. Atkinson is also renowned for his exceptional fitness levels.
Back in 2024, he completed the gruelling Bronco test in just 4 minutes and 8 seconds.
The running drill is designed to test the conditioning of rugby players and has become a popular benchmark across the sport.
Atkinson’s time set a new PREM record and was faster than some of the biggest names in world rugby.
He finished four seconds quicker than Beauden Barrett and three seconds ahead of Hugo Keenan, setting the fastest time ever recorded in rugby.
“I didn’t really know how fit I was and then just started to go and kept on going,” he said last year. “ [I] Put in a pretty good score which will be tough to beat next pre-season but what can you do.”
“It’s something that I’ve always been big on. My background was always running, cross-country running and triathlons. I think I just enjoyed it more than anything.”
With Atkinson continuing to attract interest from across the league, there is unlikely to be a shortage of options available to him.
His next move remains unclear, but Leicester now appear to have joined the list of clubs chasing his signature.
