Leicester Tigers' hopes of having huge Samoan prop Logovi'i Mulipola available for the start of next season have been dealt a blow.

The 24-year-old, who made such a big impact on his Aviva Premiership debut at Saracens last Sunday, had already signed a short-term contract with New Zealand provincial side Hawkes Bay before he arrived at Leicester on trial.

His deal Down Under will see him play in the country's ITM Cup from June until November, unless Tigers can secure his release.

Leicester's chief executive Simon Cohen said the club were busy trying to work on a deal with Hawkes Bay – the side which current Tigers back-rower Thomas Waldrom played for in 2009 – to make that happen.

"Mulipola came to us purely on a trial basis, but has a contract with Hawkes Bay to play in the ITM tournament in New Zealand," said Cohen.

"In view of the success he has had with us, he would like to stay here and we would like him to stay.

"However, we have to respect the fact that he is in contract and, if we are not able to release him from that contract, he would have to go to Hawkes Bay and come back to play for us afterwards.

"Hawkes Bay have contracted a player and, understandably, would like him to play for them. At some stage, we would hope that a financial arrangement could be entered into, given that the player would like to remain in the UK. But it is entirely their call."

Cohen said that their own negotiations with Mulipola were at a very advanced stage and that the club would accept his arrival in November, if that had to be the case.

"We are having those (contract) discussions with the player now and have pretty much agreed terms for him to stay beyond that time (November)," added Cohen.

"Pre-season is important and it makes a big difference to us to have our players here during that time.

"But if it has to be November, it has to be November."

Leicester Tigers have been placed in a group with Sale Sharks, Newcastle and Northampton Saints for their heat of the JP Morgan Asset Management Sevens this summer.

The sides will meet at Sale's Edgeley Park on Friday, July 20, with the top two going through to the final at Bath on August 3.

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