George Ford admits it’s nice to have his new contract with the club sorted and negotiations “done and dusted” after months of speculation surrounding the international fly-half dragged on throughout and following the recent Rugby World Cup.

Speaking with LTTV following the announcement that the Tigers No.10 had re-committed to Leicester, Ford said: “For it to be done and dusted is good … it’s time to put it to one side and moved forward, it’s positive.”

However, in a blunt assessment of the club’s current situation and disappointing results over recent seasons, since the Tigers Academy graduate returned to where his professional career started as a 16-year-old in 2017, Ford admitted he struggled with the decision and required guarantees from club officials that change and “stability” was on the horizon.