Leicester Tigers: Ollie Hassell-Collins joins from London Irish & Mike Brown signs new deal
- Published
Ollie Hassell-Collins (left) earned his first England cap earlier this year, five years after Mike Brown played his last game for the national side
Leicester Tigers have signed England winger Ollie Hassell-Collins from London Irish and handed veteran full-back Mike Brown a new contract.
Twice-capped Hassell-Collins, 24, came through the Exiles academy and has scored 43 tries in 101 games for Irish.
Meanwhile, ex-England and Harlequins back Brown, 37, will remain at Tigers beyond this season after initially signing a short-term deal in January.
Lock Cameron Henderson, 23, has also penned a new "long-term" Tigers deal.
Details of Hassell-Collins' contract from next season have not been disclosed.
While interim Leicester head coach Richard Wigglesworth is to leave the club for a job with the national side at the end of the season, he says Tigers now have "one of the game's most exciting young wingers" on their books.
Incoming head coach Dan McKellar added that Hassell-Collins is a "great addition to what is an exciting group".
The Australian also spoke of "a great mix of youth and experience", both of which were summed up in the latest deals made by the club.
Brown, who was recruited as cover during the Six Nations, has played five games and scored two tries - having previously gone 11 months without featuring in the Premiership and been released by Newcastle last summer.
Henderson, who was called up to the Scotland squad for the recent Six Nations campaign, has made 32 appearances for the Tigers since arriving in the summer of 2020.
The lock said he was excited to be "building something special" at the club alongside other emerging players, while Brown has spoken about wanting to "set an example to the young lads and help them".
Wigglesworth says Brown's "experience has been invaluable".
"The circumstances in which Mike returned were unique and challenging, but you would never have known by the way he has approached each day and this contract is just reward for that hard work," Wigglesworth said.
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