Wales international Nicky Smith is set to depart Leicester Tigers at season's end, after agreeing to a two-year spell in 2024. The loosehead prop, who joined from the Ospreys and quickly earned respect within the squad, has chosen to pursue a longer-term deal elsewhere, despite Leicester offering him an extension. At 31, Smith is prioritising a contract that provides greater long-term security, and he has racked up 32 appearances for the club, crossing the try line twice.
Head coach Geoff Parling praised Smith as both a high-calibre player and a strong presence in the dressing room. He stated that while the club would have preferred to keep him for the coming years, Smith has elected to explore a longer-term opportunity elsewhere. Parling also confirmed ongoing plans to unveil another group of retained players and to advance discussions with targeted new signings in the near future.
Rumours circulating in rugby media have pointed toward Sale Sharks as the likely destination for Smith, with Sale also reportedly pursuing other high-profile Saracens players, including Elliot Daly and Alex Lozowski.
Nicky Smith, born in Swansea, rose through local clubs before moving to Ospreys, where he made 200 appearances after his 2012 debut. He joined Leicester after two years with Wales U20s and earned his senior cap in 2014 against Fiji. Most recently, he featured for Wales in the Autumn Nations Series victory over Japan in November, bringing his Wales tally to 59 caps and three tries.
For more context and analysis on recent form and other squad developments, see the linked reports and player evaluations from the same period.
