Leicester Tigers want to reunite with Scarlets flyhalf Sam Costelow as doubts persist over the future of back-to-back World Cup-winning star Handre Pollard, whose contract expires at the end of the season.
Pollard, 30, who has made 80 appearances for his country, played for Bulls, Red Hurricanes Osaka and Montpelier before joining East Midlands in 2022 and has made 33 appearances for the club, scoring six tries.
But there are indications that Pollard, who reportedly earns £600,000 a year, may return to Japan. Especially considering that the financial compensation on offer is better in the Far East than in his native South Africa, where options are limited.
The Tigers are keen to have Costelowe, 23, from Llantrisant in Mid-Glamorgan and educated at Oakham School, back. His ties to the Tigers date back to the late 19th century.
The production line of Old Oakhamians who played for the Tigers include Jack Van Poortvliet, Tom Croft and Lewis Moody as well as legendary stalwart David Matthews, regarded as one of the greatest players in the club’s history.
Costelowe was a member of the Ospreys under-16 team before joining the Tigers in 2018 and made just four first-team appearances before moving to the Scarlets in March 2020 as an understudy at George Ford.
He has made 55 appearances for the Parc y Scarlets outfit, scoring 366 points and earning 17 caps upon entering the Wales set-up in November 2022, which could prove to be an obstacle to a potential return to the East Midlands.
Players who have played fewer than 25 games after being excluded from the previous requirement of 60 will have to play for Wales if they wish to continue playing for their country.
This means that Costelowe will almost always have to be present for next autumn’s international competition, the Six Nations and the summer tour of Japan if he is to reach the required number of caps.
