The Leicester Tigers Women have announced a fresh set of player re-signings as they build towards the next season, retaining a mix of home-grown talent and recent arrivals who have become regulars in the matchday squad.
Experience and youth kept together
The latest confirmations include front‑row and back‑row players who have already featured repeatedly this season. The club’s statements highlight players who have progressed through trials, university systems and other Premiership and Championship clubs.
- Alicia Watkins – the hooker, who joined Tigers from Cheltenham Tigers in the summer of 2025 and has also spent time on loan with Trailfinders Women, will remain with the club.
- Tiana Gordon – a Northampton‑born back row who arrived in summer 2024 and has experience with Wasps, DMP Sharks and Gloucester‑Hartpury, has re‑signed.
- Amelie Anstead – a versatile back recruited from nearby Loughborough Lightning in 2025 and with a background in university rugby and Sevens, will continue at Tigers.
- Hermione Farmer – a powerful flanker who joined prior to the current campaign after a scholarship spell at Newcastle University, has extended her stay.
- Summer Reeves – an 18‑year‑old back row scouted at an open trial in June 2025 who had been named in the England U18 squad for the 2025 Six Nations but missed out through injury, will also remain with the club.
- Kat Turner – a back rower who has been with Leicester Tigers Women since the side’s formation and is recovering from a knee injury while awaiting her Premiership debut, has been retained.
Squad continuity and match involvement
The retained players account for a mixture of regular match involvement and promising potential. Appearance numbers provided by the club for the current season show significant contributions from several of the re‑signings.
| Player | Position | Appearances (season) |
|---|---|---|
| Alicia Watkins | Hooker | 9 |
| Tiana Gordon | Back row | 14 |
| Amelie Anstead | Back | 7 |
| Hermione Farmer | Flanker | 12 |
The list also includes younger players who have come through the club’s trial pathway — notably Summer Reeves, who impressed at an open trial and has previously represented City of Oxford and the Thames Valley Centre of Excellence.
What this means for supporters
For fans in and around Leicester, the signings signal continuity in the forward pack and back‑line depth as Tigers prepare for another campaign. Several of those retained have varied development backgrounds — from university rugby to Premiership academies and Championship competition — which suggests a blend of experience and emerging talent in the group.
Supporters awaiting the Premiership debut of players returning from injury will be watching pre‑season progress closely. The club having kept a number of players who have been regulars this season should aid cohesion as coaching staff assess combinations ahead of competitive matches.
Further contract news and squad updates are expected from the club as preparations continue into the close season.
