Leicester Tigers will welcome Aled Walters to the club ahead of the 2020/21 season as Head of Physical Performance.
Walters joins Tigers from South Africa, where he has been the Head of Athletic Performance at SA Rugby since 2018 and played a key role in the Springboks’ 2019 Rugby World Cup win.
The Welsh-born Walters completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and Sports Science at Loughborough University in 2002 before completing his Master of Science, Strength and Conditioning at Edinburgh.
He spent four seasons with the Scarlets before taking on the role of head of strength and conditioning at Taranaki and then athletic performance coach at the Brumbies in Super Rugby.
In 2012, Walters became head of athletic performance / strength and conditioning at Munster Rugby for six years ahead of being recruited to head up the Springboks programme.
Speaking about his appointment at Tigers, Walters admitted to having been a long-time admirer of the club from afar.
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“I grew up a staunch Scarlets fan and have a lot of history with Leicester,” he said. “I was there when the famous Tim Stimpson penalty went over.”
He added: “You have to fit the culture and I definitely appreciate that. That’s why teams like Leicester are more attractive to me.
“Leicester is a very similar club to Munster and Scarlets – it’s a working-class area, they’re tougher people and that’s something that definitely appealed to me.”
Leicester Tigers | Four perfect replacements for Jonny May
Leicester Tigers have already lost Jonny May to Gloucester and Jonah Holmes to Dragons, which severely depletes their wide-men ranks.
They have already signed Fijian powerhouse Nemani Nadolo for next season, but need reinforcements with Rory Hughes also set to depart when his loan from Glasgow expires.
Here’s a list of four wingers who would be seen as great signings for Tigers:
1. Marland Yarde
Tigers were linked with the England international speedster before the quarantine began.
There was then a report from The Rugby Paper that he’d signed a new deal with Sale, but that hasn’t been confirmed.
If Tigers can get him in, the 27-year-old would guarantee tries as long as he remains fit.
Absolutely a player to consider.
