Tigers Academy's assistant boss leaves

Leicester Tigers' assistant Academy manager Jim McKay has left the club after landing the job of backs and defence coach at the Queensland Reds.

He will join up with the Super 14 outfit's head coach Ewen McKenzie to plan their tilt at the southern hemisphere's top competition.

Sydney-born McKay has gained extensive coaching experience in England, having been at the Cornish Pirates before moving to Leicester.

Tigers Academy manager Neil McCarthy said McKay would be sorely missed but was happy he had landed such a big job.

"Jim has done an excellent job with the Academy and he will return to Australia with our blessing," added McCarthy. "The fact that a side like Queensland Reds want him involved in their senior set-up in the Super 14s shows the level of his contribution here, and also the strength of the coaching set-up at the Tigers Academy." McKay said he would leave Tigers' training ground at Oval Park with some fond memories.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Leicester Tigers because the club takes the development of its Academy players very seriously and puts a lot of emphasis on bringing young players through the ranks into the senior set-up," he said.

"Tom Croft, Ben Youngs and Matt Smith are just some of the guys who have come right through here in recent years to join the current first-team squad, and before them it was Louis and Brett Deacon, Harry Ellis, Sam Vesty and Dan Hipkiss.

"The club takes great pride in bringing players through and those guys act as a great incentive for the next generations of Academy players. I'm sure there are many more to follow.

"The Academy development and playing programme is world-class and it has been a privilege to be involved.

"There is a fantastic group of players and work culture here, and I look forward to seeing them progress into the first-team ranks."

Tigers will recruit a replacement in due course.