British & Irish Lion Tom Croft has signed a new deal with club side Leicester Tigers in a decision director of rugby Richard Cockerill believes was a no-brainer.
Flanker Croft, a veteran of two Lions tours including the 2013 2-1 series success Down Under, has experienced a rotten time with injury in the last few years.
The 29-year-old had just returned from a broken neck before a serious knee injury caused him to miss much of last term.
He had returned to full fitness, earning himself an England recall last month, but a dislocated shoulder while on Tigers duty has seen him sidelined for the next six months.
However this hasn’t stopped Cockerill from putting a new Leicester deal in front of Croft, with the Tigers chief delighted the back rower has put pen to paper.
"I have agreed a contract with him. Tom has had some poor luck injury-wise. We all know when Tom's fit he is world-class," Cockerill said. "He is still relatively young.
"He has been very loyal to the club over a long period and we have supported him hugely. It's the right thing to do.
“I think he will come back and we will be talking about Tom Croft playing how Tom Croft can play."
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