Ollie Hassell-Collins to join Leicester Tigers as Mike Brown signs new contract at Premiership side

Ollie Hassell-Collins will join the Leicester Tigers this simmer after the club announced the signing of the England winger, while Mike Brown penned a new deal.

Hassell-Collins made his debut last month for England at the Six Nations when they were beaten by Scotland on the opening weekend.

He has been with his current club, London Irish, since 2015 when he joined the academy.

It’s the biggest club in England and hard to say no, when they want to come and chat with you,” said Hassell-Collins. “It excites me a lot, being a part of Leicester Tigers.

“I know some of the guys and am looking forward to being a part of the young group and what is a pretty crazy potential line-up in the backline.

“It’s a hell of a ground, Mattioli Woods Welford Road, and when you think about Leicester Tigers, you think about the stadium and crowd, how hostile it is, and it’s exciting to know I’ll be on the home side of that.”

Incoming head coach Dan McKellar added: “Ollie is a great addition to what is an exciting group, which I cannot wait to work with starting from next season.”

“He is an international, who is already very experienced in the Premiership at a young age.”

“The squad put together for next year is a great mix of youth and experience, which I hope Leicester Tigers supporters are as excited as I am about.”

Brown signs new deal

Also on Tuesday, Leicester announced Mike Brown will stay at the club beyond this season.

Brown joined the club in January and has scored two tries from five appearances.

He won three Six Nations titles for England between 2007 and 2018 and the 37-year-old says he appreciated the opportunity to represent the Premiership side.

“Since arriving, I have been really impressed with the environment here at Leicester Tigers and feel that they fit with the values I have as a person and a rugby player,” he said.

“I have really enjoyed working the quality of players in this squad and coaches, which I want to continue to do and am excited to keep doing.

“The opportunity to play at Mattioli Woods Welford Road with the supporters this club has was something I wasn’t, admittedly, quite sure about after being an opposition player for so long, but they have welcomed me so well and it is great that I can keep doing that.”