Goode rejects French club to stay with Tigers

The Leicester and England outside-half Andy Goode has signed a three-year contract extension at the Tigers.

Goode had received strong overtures from the French Top 14 club Clermont Auvergne, who are chasing a replacement for the departing Wales outside-half Stephen Jones. But after lengthy negotiations, the 25-year-old Goode was convinced to stay at Welford Road by Leicester's desire for success over the coming seasons.

That campaign for silverware continues against Wasps in the first of today's Powergen Cup semi-finals at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

"I am really pleased to have sorted everything out," said Goode. "I have spent the vast majority of my career at Leicester, my family are happy and settled and we have made a lot of friends here.

"Allied to that, we have an excellent young team here and there is a lot of potential to win some silverware in the next few years. I am just going to concentrate on doing the best I can for the team and trying to ensure that we fulfil our promise, starting with the game against Wasps."

Goode, in his second spell at Leicester after spending 18 months with Saracens, has scored 1,080 points since making his Premiership debut for the Tigers eight years ago.