Leicester Tigers will lose back row Hanro Liebenberg at season's end as the 30-year-old returns to South Africa to rejoin the Bulls. The Premiership title-winner in 2022 has made 141 appearances for Leicester, scoring 31 tries since joining ahead of the 2019 season. Head coach Geoff Parling confirmed discussions had been ongoing for months before Liebenberg opted for family reasons.

Parling expressed disappointment at losing the influential forward, noting Leicester had anticipated his departure when signing Aaron Wainwright. "We would have loved him to stay - I think he would have loved to stay from a rugby point of view," Parling told BBC Radio Leicester. The Tigers face Bath in the Prem Rugby Cup semi-finals this Sunday while sitting in play-off positions with seven wins from ten league games.

Liebenberg called it "one of the toughest decisions of my career," praising Leicester's people and fans who "always had my back." The South African emphasized wanting to leave the club "in a better position than when I found it," reflecting on the special connection he formed during his five-year spell at Welford Road.