Troubled Tigers snap up out-of-favour Scarlets back as relegation run-in injury cover

Relegation-threatened Leicester have signed Clayton Blommetjies from the Scarlets as injury cover for their back line.

From Paarl in South Africa, the 28-year-old plays full-back or wing and moved to the Scarlets after previous spells with Boland Cavaliers, Blue Bulls and Free State Cheetahs. He was among the leading members of the Cheetahs squad in their first PRO14 season in 2017/18.

Speaking at the club’s Oval Park training ground, Blommetjies told LTTV: “I will fit in nicely at Leicester Tigers. I will do my best and give 100 per cent in everything I do for the rest of the season.

“It [getting here] is a long story. Last year I played a great PRO14 and ended up with Scarlets. The last few months didn’t go well.

“I didn’t get game time, so I talked to my agent and asked him to get me something to play for the next few months just to keep my rugby at a level. That is why I am here at Leicester. I am enjoying it, the players and coaches are friendly.

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Straight to work for the new Tiger in town! pic.twitter.com/ZhmsaATb3c

— Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) April 9, 2019

“It’s a new environment, a new brand of rugby, a new style of rugby… I want to express myself on the field,” said the South African whose last match for Scarlets was against Glasgow in early December. He has since been playing in the Welsh Premiership for Llanelli.

Tigers boss Geordan Murphy said: “Injuries have stretched us with Mathew Tait’s retirement and the long-term absence of Adam Thompstone and Telusa Veainu, so we have been looking to add to our options in the back three and we’re happy that Clayton has come in to join that group.”

Blommetjies has gained representative honours with South Africa Students and South Africa Under-20s as well as the Barbarians.

Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac said: “We are fortunate to have a number of high-quality options in our back three at the moment, so have agreed to Leicester’s request for a loan deal for Clayton.”

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