Leicester and England centre Dan Hipkiss has followed Harry Ellis and Tom Croft in signing a new deal at Welford Road.
Leicester and England centre agrees new deal
Leicester and England centre Dan Hipkiss has followed Harry Ellis and Tom Croft in signing a new deal at Welford Road.
The 26-year-old, who is currently sidelined following an operation on a troubled knee, turned down the advances of several clubs to stay at the Tigers.
And Hipkiss insists he made his decision to stay because of the club's ability to retain its local talent.
"The club have kept hold of a lot of home-grown players this year and that influenced my decision," Hipkiss told the
Leicester Mercury.
"Foreign players obviously bring unique skills with them to the club, but it is important that a special club like Leicester maintains its local links. Watching some of those guys like Matt Smith and Dan Cole come through the academy to play first-team rugby is great to see.
"It is an exciting time for the club with the stadium redevelopment taking place.
"If we can sort ourselves out on the pitch and build some consistency, there will be a bright future ahead. The fitness staff at the club are also second to none - especially when you have endured spells of injury - and guys like Alex Martin (head of strength and conditioning) have been brilliant to me and a lot of the other players."
The news will come as a boost to the Tigers, who will lose French hooker Benjamin Kayser to Stade Français at the end of the season.
