Bateman seals Leicester move

By Mark Stevens

Leicester Tigers have today confirmed hooker Greg Bateman has joined them from Aviva Premiership rivals Exeter Chiefs.

Bateman, who joined the Devon club from London Welsh during the summer of 2013, is one of two new additions made by the Tigers who have also added scrum-half Jono Kitto.

Bateman initially came through the Harlequins academy and played for England Under-18s before spells with London Welsh and Exeter Chiefs, the latter of whom he made 17 first team appearances in total for.

The 26-year-old also scored three tries, the last of which was the decisive try for the Chiefs in their LV= Cup semi-final win at Welford Road in March this year.

Commenting on his move, Frimley-born Bateman said: “I was naturally frustrated with the lack of game time and I made no secret of that with Rob (Baxter), who understood. However, I can’t speak highly enough of the Chiefs – it was a positive time for my career.

“Leicester will be a great challenge though. It is a great and historic club with a track record of bringing people in and doing good things."

As part of the squad that got the Chiefs to successive LV= Cup Finals, the first of which saw them win on home soil against Northampton Saints, Bateman insists he departs Devon with plenty of fond memories.

“I was involved in a lot of the LV= and European games and last year’s LV= Cup campaign was amazing,” he said. “I also had a little run in the team in the Premiership when one of the other lads was injured and that was brilliant too, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it all here.

“There are so many off-the-pitch memories too. It is the people you play with that make the difference and they are a great bunch of lads.”

But having switched Sandy Park for Welford Road, Bateman has already been warned that breaking into the Leicester first team will be just as tough next season.

Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill said: "Greg knows we have a very competitive group of front-rowers at this club, but he says he wants to come here and develop and test himself in that company. He has already gained useful Aviva Premiership experience and we look forward to his arrival this summer."

Meanwhile, scrum-half Kitto, 23, joins Tigers this summer after spending 2015 with the Chiefs Development Squad in New Zealand. He played at age-group level with Canterbury before joining Bay of Plenty and was called up by the Chiefs this year.