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Leicester statement: The early release exit of Harry Potter
By Liam Heagney
Leicester Tigers have explained why they have agreed to grant Harry Potter an early release from his contract at Welford Road. The Australian arrived in England at the start of the Steve Borthwick tenure but he will exit after the 2022/23 season ended with Richard Wigglesworth in temporary charge of team affairs after the head coach took over the England job.
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Wigglesworth will soon join Borthwick on the national team staff, paving the way for ex-Brumbies boss and Wallabies assistant Dan McKellar to take over at the home of the 2021/22 Gallagher Premiership champions. However, he will inherit a squad that won’t now have the services of Potter available.
A statement read: “Leicester Tigers can confirm that Harry Potter will leave the club in the summer. The 25-year-old will leave after mutual agreement between the player and club for an early release from his contract to return to Australia.
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“Potter played for Sydney University, the NSW Country Eagles and Melbourne Rising in Australia’s National Rugby Championship before joining the Melbourne Rebels in 2019.
“The outside back joined Tigers in the summer of 2020 and made 67 appearances after debuting in August 2020. Potter started the 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership final victory over Saracens.”
"He'll need a magic wand to get out of that…"
– Harry Potter incredibly disappeared from view over a wall just 117 seconds after he celebrated scoring a try for Leicester in Bordeaux#Leicester #HeinekenChampionsCup #BORvLEIhttps://t.co/zySeeDfrWq
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 14, 2021
Potter said: “I’m incredibly grateful to have been a part of this club for the past three years and to have shared in spectacular memories with everyone involved at Leicester Tigers. What this club has given me is far more than I could have ever imagined, not to mention winning a Premiership.
“I owe the coaches a huge thank you, to be at the club while Tigers rose back to the top is so much down to them and I thank them for their mentorship and relentless hard work, in particular Steve for having faith and giving me the opportunity and helping shape the player I now am.
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“The other staff in offices, gyms and on the grounds, make this club so strong and I appreciate everything they have done to have helped create this incredible experience. To our chairman Peter Tom, Tom Scott and the board, as well as all of the partners and sponsors, it has been an honour to be involved with what has been implemented over the past few seasons at Leicester Tigers.
“What makes this club even more great is the fans and the unbeatable place to play and the feeling of running out at Mattioli Woods Welford Road; the stamping above your head on the stands is truly unique. The Tigers family have welcomed me, and every single supporter makes this club so enjoyable to play for which I will miss being able to do – in front of the loudest and best crowd in the world.
“My teammates have been a bunch of guys that make up a proper team, being able to go out there with this group was a huge privilege and particularly when we win, a lot of fun. I am excited for what is next in my rugby career but also look forward to watching Leicester Tigers continue to go from strength to strength.”
