Pro12 progress now so crucial as Munster need massive lift

It was quite the day for Leicester Tigers yesterday, as the English Premiership giants kicked off another European week with the signing of a World Cup winner for next season and the announcement of a trio of new deals for established frontliners.

Having coolly dispatched Munster in Limerick and at Welford Road in December, the Tigers are sitting pretty at the top Champions Cup Pool 4, four points clear of the Irish province’s latest conquerors Stade Francais and with a home quarter-final draw within their grasp this weekend when they welcome whipping boys Treviso to the East Midlands on Saturday night.

They will do so after a league derby win over Northampton Saints last weekend that consolidates their top-four status in the Premiership and with the further morale-boosting news not only have backline trio Telusa Veainu, Matt Smith and Adam Thompstone all put pen to paper on new contracts but South Africa’s JP Pietersen will now be following Australian Matt Toomua in joining for next season.