Morris to leave Welford Road

BBC Radio Leicester has reported on Tuesday that former Wales and Lions prop Darren Morris is on his way out of Leicester at the end of this season.

Morris has 18 Wales caps to his name and toured with Graham Henry's 2001 British & Irish Lions.

He arrived at Leicester in 2003 from Swansea, as one of Dean Richards's last signings before his departure.

He has played 54 matches for the Tigers, but has found regular first-team rugby hard to come by this season.

Although he has started some Heineken Cup matches, all six of his Premiership appearances have been off the bench, and with Italian international Martin Castrogiovanni joining next season, Morris would have been pushed even further down the pecking order.

Also leaving Welford Road is young fly-half Ross Broadfoot who has made just nine starts since arriving from London Irish two seasons ago.

Lewisham-born Broadfoot, a member of England's U21 team in 2004/5, joined from London Irish's academy in September 2004, but has also struggled to break into the first team.

With Paul Burke arriving next season and Andy Goode re-signing with the Tigers, Broadfoot has also slipped down the pecking order, but Leicester coach Pat Howard left the door open for Broadfoot to return.

Howard believes the 21-year-old needs regular rugby at this stage of his career and urged one of the Tigers' Premiership rivals to snap him up.

"It was a very difficult decision. Ross did very, very well last year and has had it tougher this year," said Howard.

"I still believe in him. He is a Premiership player and could go away and come back. He was not getting enough regular rugby and as a decision-maker at number 10 you have to play to develop your rugby.

"I said he should go away and get a regular first-team spot. He has the skills and can play at this standard.

"But there are things you can't learn on the training paddock and I'm sure he will come back as a very good player."