Transfer news: Leicester Tigers agree deal for Northampton star
Leicester Tigers have agreed a deal to bring Northampton Saints' fly-half Ryan Lamb to the club next season.
Tigers went into the market after George Ford rejected the offer of a new deal last month.
-
Leicester Tigers have agreed a deal to bring Northampton Saints' fly-half Ryan Lamb
I understand the club then spoke to Lamb's Saints' team-mate Stephen Myler about a possible move up the A6, but Northampton are understood to have upped their financial offer considerably to keep Myler at Franklin's Gardens.
Tigers then turned their attention to Lamb and I understand they have also spoken to former Tigers player Andy Goode as well, who is leaving Worcester at the end of the season, but is expected to go elsewhere.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
With Lamb joining Dan Bowden next season to put pressure on Toby Flood, Tigers will not be short of fly-halves with flair and the ability to make something happen out of nothing.
While Lamb's arrival will not be to everyone's taste, there were eyebrows raised when Anthony Allen trod a similar path from Kingsholm to Welford Road four years ago.
The Tigers environment and coaching staff turned Allen into one of the first names on the team-sheet and they will be hoping that Aussie head coach Matt O'Connor will be able to get the very best out of Lamb, who is also a trustee of the Rugby For Heroes charity.
The 26-year-old spent his formative years playing, alongside Allen, for his home-town club, Gloucester.
Lamb made his debut at Kingsholm aged just 19 and, with him as the club's first-choice fly-half, Gloucester topped the Premiership table in 2006/07 and 2007/08.
He was part of the Cherry & Whites side that lost to Leicester in the 2007 final at Twickenham.
During the time he starred at Gloucester, Lamb's form earned him England recognition with both the England Under-21s and the Saxons.
He moved to London Irish and then Northampton in the summer of 2011 and, with a good fitness record, has been an almost ever-present in the Saints squad over the last two seasons.
He made 30 appearances last year, with 19 starts and he has already made 19 appearances this season, with seven of those coming off the bench.
Lamb's arrival does not necessarily mean the end of Tigers' spending to provide options in the No.10 shirt.
With Flood, Lamb, Bowden and incoming French half-back David Mele all around the same age, Tigers could yet turn their attentions to finding a young, promising fly-half to nurture over coming seasons.
7 Comments
by Meattwoveg
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 8:06PM
“I do not really see why we signed Bowden if he can't kick? Lamb is not terribly inspiring either. However Cockers record of getting us to finals is impressive we just need to close more of them out ! Quins and Sarries are decent outfits and worthy foes”
by Bob491
Monday, February 18 2013, 11:56PM
“Ford will blossom with good coaching elsewhere next season, just as Twelvetrees has done.
Twelvetrees would never have starred for England had he stayed at Tigers.”
by Oadbylad
Monday, February 18 2013, 6:19PM
“Hope its just a stop gap measure
Was hoping to see the opportunity grasped with an up and coming number 10 maybe Henry Slade from Chiefs
Who Guthy as had better games at that position for the Saxons than Ford
And remember it was Lancaster who dropped Farrell in Argentina in favour of Ford and look where Farrell is now
Ford as been his own worst enemy hes had bite after bite at the cherry and not improved”
by Rixter
Monday, February 18 2013, 3:32PM
“I think we should give the guy a chance before we write him off just yet!! An astute signing and I am sure we will get the best out of him.”
by tigerglory
Monday, February 18 2013, 1:32PM
“not sure whether to laugh or cry.... Lamb was heralded as the 'saviour of english rugby' when he burst onto the scene... his career (thanks mostly to Dean Ryan, now himself the saviour of scottish rugby!) has nosedived and unlikely to recover sufficiently for him to make positive impact at Tigers.
Cockers true to his word when talking about a shift in recruitment policy!!”
by Snaggy
Monday, February 18 2013, 1:11PM
“Ryan Lamb? Why? Is buying a Northampton reserve who looks even more fragile than Toby Flood the best Cockerill can do. Bring back Jeremy Staunton. Only joking!”
by Guthy
Monday, February 18 2013, 1:02PM
“Not a bad player although he has never quite achieved his potential. Tigers will live to rue the loss of Ford who really has the potential to be a world class stand-off.
Yet again Cockerill can't hang on to the best backs. This is very worrying for the club's future.”