Woohoo

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/16303332.stm

New deals on the way for Anthony Allen and Billy Twelvetrees. Dan Cole and Marcos Ayerza already sorted and now the backs are signing up as well!

So we can look forward to another season of arguing that they are both wasted at Tigers when Tuilagi plays at 12 and Smith 13.

Well Allen was injured for that and I must presume from his lack of use off of the bench that Twelvetrees wasn't fully fit.

They are both still very good assets and will help the club compete at the highest levels.

Full back and hooker still remain an issue though.

If Twelvetrees signs he's basically throwing his career away. What a waste. I can only assume Cockerill has his pet hamster captive somewhere or something.

Presumably he's received some guarentee over game time. I doubt he's throwing his career away seeing as Tigers have molded him into the player he is over time and that has led to a Saxons call up.

I reckon he'd be an England regular now, and an uncontentious one, if he'd moved to another AP side a couple of years ago. Now he can look forward to a lot of A-team and bench warming. You have to wonder who is advising him. Tho opportunity to play 12 for England won't last forever, someone will make the place theirs eventually.

Has Twelvetrees been selected for the Lions yet?

You can't question what Tigers have done for Twelvetrees considering no one had even heard of him before he signed. They are the reason why people are even talking about him for England selection.

Manu's Boxing Coach wrote:You can't question what Tigers have done for Twelvetrees considering no one had even heard of him before he signed. They are the reason why people are even talking about him for England selection.

Agreed, but he's not first choice when everyone's fit and is not even guaranteed to make the bench. Can't help but feel he should really have moved on if he wanted to break into the England set up in the next 12 months. Doesn't bother me too much, I think Barritt and Farrell are better players anyway but the more people challenging for a position the better. Can see why Tigers fans are happy both are to re-sign though.

Billy who ?

You can't question what Tigers have done for Twelvetrees considering no one had even heard of him before he signed

Well Tigers fans had heard of him because he'd played for the Tigers A team in a friendly against NZ and had come through the Tigers academy. He needed that season in the Championship to get game time and improve though. He's been a bit unlucky with injuries but I'd hope he'll now push on and start to get going.

I reckon he'd be an England regular now, and an uncontentious one, if he'd moved to another AP side a couple of years ago.

Or would he have been slammed for his errors, would he have developed the same way (there's been a lot of development) and would he have had the same opportunities to progress at another club? Nearly every club in the AP has a clear first choice 12 that Billy would have had to compete against last year.

DaveM wrote:I reckon he'd be an England regular now, and an uncontentious one, if he'd moved to another AP side a couple of years ago. Now he can look forward to a lot of A-team and bench warming. You have to wonder who is advising him. Tho opportunity to play 12 for England won't last forever, someone will make the place theirs eventually.

Shane Geraghty?

I think it is a statement of intent by 36. If he can force his way into the Tigers side, then he is right in the shop window for international selection. Right now he is not good enough to be in a full strength Tigers lineup (or it would seem a below par lineup).
He is a promising player but no more than that right now. Moving on would have been running away from the "problem"