Bassett gets ready to roar for Tigers

CHRIS ASHTON will take some replacing but Josh Bassett has come to Leicester hoping to make a splash of his own.

- JON NEWCOMBE

Bassett and ex-London Irish star Ollie Hassell-Collins have been signed to bolster the Tigers' stocks out wide now that Ashton, European and Premiership rugby's record try scorer, has finally hung up his boots and Anthony Watson hasn't had his contract renewed.

Ashton and fellow veteran Mike Brown, who is still on the books, showed that age is just a number in producing some highlight reel moments last season and 31-year-old Bassett one of the best uncapped wingers around hopes Tigers fans will get to see an even better version of himself in the campaign ahead.

"They are great players who have had an opportunity to come to this great club and they have made some great memories here which is exciting.

That's what you want as a rugby player as you get older, you want to be in those environments that are still going to drive standards, are still going to push you further and are still going to develop you as a player," reflected Bassett, who made over 180 appearances in over a decade at Wasps.