A TRIO of former Worcester Warriors players have signed deals to join reigning Gallagher Premiership champions Leicester Tigers next season.

Flanker Kyle Hatherell, hooker Finn Theobald-Thomas and full-back Jamie Shillcock have agreed to make the move to the Mattioli Wood Welford Road for the 2023/24 campaign.

The three were confirmed by Tigers on their social media accounts on Wednesday evening, alongside ex-Wasps winger Josh Bassett.

Both Shillcock and Theobald-Thomas were brought through the academy at Warriors and they will be two signings that will hurt the most for Worcester fans.

Shillcock, who is currently in Japan with Mitsubishi DynaBoars, had grown into one of the most underrated players in the Premiership at Sixways and was one of the players of the season in the 2021/22 season in particular.

Speaking about the addition of Shillcock, Leicester Tigers Head Coach Richard Wigglesworth said: "We are very excited about Jamie joining us next season and seeing what he brings to Leicester Tigers.

"He has played a lot of rugby for a young man and offers great versatility, through the backline, as well as being a goal-kicking option.

"At only 25, Jamie has shown great maturity during a very tough season on and off the field and is as much the person we want at Leicester Tigers as he is the player."

Shillcock added: "When I first spoke to the club and they laid out the plans and where they thought I fit in them, it was just too good a chance to turn down.

"I think the first game I ever watched live was a Leicester Tigers game and even attended their Rugby Camps when I was a kid, so it’s a club I have always had a connection to and when the opportunity came, it was just one I couldn’t say no to."

As for Theobald-Thomas, he was on the verge of a breakthrough into the first team under Steve Diamond but when the financial situation unfolded, he ended up joining Gloucester for the rest of the 2022/23 season.

Hatherell is currently playing in La Rochelle with the French giants, but will be swapping the French South-West for the Midlands once again, having played for Worcester in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons.

"I am absolutely delighted to be signing for Leicester Tigers. It is a club that I have always admired," he said.

"Having played at Mattioli Woods Welford Road and witnessed how passionate the crowd are, I can’t wait to show the Leicester fans how it will mean to me to put on the jersey."