Leicester Tigers general manager to depart club

Leicester Tigers have confirmed that general manager Leigh Jones will be departing the club in the summer.

Jones, who joined Tigers in May 2021, previously held positions with the Hong Kong Rugby Union as National Coach Development Manager, Head Coach, and later as the Head of High Performance. He also contributed to the Japanese national team’s defense and breakdown at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Before his tenure at HKRU, Jones served in coaching roles at Ebbw Vale, Newport, Newport Gwent Dragons, and the Welsh Rugby Union senior team. He notably led the Wales ‘A’ program under Sir Graham Henry.

As the first General Manager at Leicester Tigers, Jones oversaw off-field performance aspects, including the management of the Oval Park facility, operational processes and procedures at the training ground, and the establishment of cultural and performance standards throughout the rugby program, including the academy and senior squads.

During his time at the club, the senior squad achieved the title of Gallagher Premiership Champions in his first season and reached the quarter-finals of the Heineken Champions Cup in consecutive campaigns. They fell short of back-to-back Premiership Finals by a single game.

Additionally, the academy program secured a third-place finish in this season’s Premiership Under-18 League.

Speaking about his time at the club, Jones said: “It has been an interesting and enjoyable two years, transitioning back to the UK from Hong Kong into, what was, a new format for me personally in a competition of the Premiership’s standing.”

“It’s been a pleasure and privilege to work with some great staff, players and coaches at Leicester Tigers, helping to establish what I now believe to be a truly integrated and harmonious training platform from which players and coaches can maximise potential.

“While the work that you do goes largely un-noticed, it proves very important in the daily running of the rugby platform in respect of both the ‘here and now’ and also having a keen eye on the future; introducing and maximising systems, structures and player pathways to safeguard the future of the club.

“It has been a great thrill to work closely with the coaching team, many of whom are world class operators, to advise, mentor and simply offer an opinion, when needed.”

Leicester Tigers interim head coach Richard Wigglesworth added: “Leigh has been a great source of knowledge and experience, as well as a great mentor and friend to me in my time at the club.”

“Firstly, while I was balancing playing and coaching and then, when I moved into the Head Coach role, even more so as a brilliant advisor during my first time in a role of this magnitude.

“The work of a General Manager is largely behind the scenes, ensuring that coaches and players are capable of doing the very best they can because of the thankless work that goes into all that is required and Leigh has done that, every day, of which cannot be spoken highly enough of by myself.

“I am so grateful for all that he has done for me, this club and wish him all the very best in whatever comes next, whoever is the lucky organisation to have him.”