England test trio agree new deals with Leicester Tigers
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Leicester Tigers have agreed new deals with George Martin, Jack van Poortvliet and Freddie Steward beyond the 2022/23 season.
Speaking about the trio, Leicester Tigers Head Coach Steve Borthwick said: “This is a very exciting day for the club and I hope the supporters have enjoyed receiving this news.”
“All three of these young men - George, Freddie and Jack - are proud Leicester Tigers players, who have been a part of the club since they were kids and grown up, together, at the club.
“There is so much growth in all of their games; the steps they have taken so far in their young careers has been brilliant to witness and a privilege to be a part of at Leicester Tigers.
“These are three young men who possess great character and hunger to be successful and, at a young age, the leadership qualities they have displayed have been exceptional and I am pleased to be able to confirm their renewals.”
GEORGE MARTIN
Position: Back Row / Lock
Date of birth: June 18, 2001
Leicester Tigers debut: September 21, 2019
Leicester Tigers appearances: 42
Honours: England Under-18, England
The versatile forward, capable of playing in the second row and back row, graduated from the Tigers Academy ahead of the 2019/20 campaign after winning back-to-back Under-18 League titles.
Martin attended Brooksby Melton College while a member of the club’s academy programme and represented England at Under-18 age grade level.
He made his senior club debut on the opening weekend of the 2019/20 season, away to Worcester Warriors in the Premiership Rugby Cup, and has made 41 senior appearances to date.
Martin made his Test debut during the 2021 Six Nations and also played in the 2022 Gallagher Premiership Final win over Saracens.
See what George Martin has to say about his new deal HERE.
JACK VAN POORTVLIET
Position: Scrum-half
Date of birth: May 15, 2001
Leicester Tigers debut: September 21, 2019
Leicester Tigers appearances: 50
Honours: England Under-18, England Under-20, England
The scrum-half graduated from the Tigers Academy ahead of the 2019/20 campaign after winning back-to-back Under-18 League titles.
Born and raised in Norfolk, van Poortvliet represented England at Under-18 age grade level while a member of the club’s academy programme.
Scrum-half van Poortvliet was selected as part of the England Under-20 squad in 2021 and named captain, leading the team to a Six Nations Grand Slam.
He made his senior club debut on the opening weekend of the 2019/20 season, away to Worcester Warriors in the Premiership Rugby Cup, and made his 50th senior appearance in the club’s most recent Gallagher Premiership fixture at Northampton Saints.
The 21-year-old made 27 appearances during the club’s league-winning 2021/22 campaign and capped off the season with selection in the England senior men’s squad for the tour of Australia, where he made his debut in the first Test and featured in all three matches on the successful tour.
See what Jack van Poortvliet has to say about his new deal HERE.
FREDDIE STEWARD
Position: Full-back
Date of birth: December 5, 2000
Leicester Tigers debut: January 26, 2019
Leicester Tigers appearances: 57
Honours: England Under-18, England Under-20, England
The full-back graduated from the Tigers Academy ahead of the 2019/20 campaign after winning back-to-back titles in the Under-18 League.
Freddie made his senior club debut in January 2019 away to Northampton Saints in the Premiership Rugby Cup while still a member of the Tigers Academy.
Born and raised in Norfolk, Steward has represented England at Under-18 and Under-20 age grade levels.
He made his Premiership and European debuts during the 2019/20 season, which included 10 appearances, before more than doubling his senior appearances in the 2020/21 campaign.
After starting in the European Challenge Cup Final at Twickenham against Montpellier in the final weeks of the 2020/21 season, Steward made his Test debut for England in July 2021 against USA at Twickenham.
The 21-year-old made 21 appearances during the club’s league-winning 2021/22 campaign and started the Gallagher Premiership Final win over Saracens.
Steward was voted the Rugby Players' Association Young Player of the Year and England Men's Player of the Season at the conclusion of the 2021/22 season, before starting all three Tests on the tour of Australia.
In his first outing of the current campaign, away to Northampton Saints last weekend, Steward scored a hat-trick and made his 50th starting appearance - and 57th overall appearance - for the club.
See what Freddie Steward has to say about his new deal HERE.
The confirmation of new deals for Martin, van Poortvliet and Steward follow last month’s announcement of seven players - Ollie Chessum, Lewis Chessum, Will Hurd, Julián Montoya, Guy Porter, Harry Wells and James Whitcombe - to agree new contracts with the club.
