May, Slater swap confirmed by Gloucester and Leicester

Aviva Premiership clubs Leicester Tigers and Gloucester Rugby have confirmed a swap deal involving Jonny May and Ed Slater ahead of the upcoming season.

Accordingly May, will move from Gloucester to Welford Road outfit while former Leicester Tigers captain Slater will move in the opposite direction.

England international May made his professional rugby debut with the Cherry and Whites in 2009 and has amassed 62 tries in 138 games for the Cherry and Whites. Slater joined Tigers in 2010 and has made over 130 appearances for them since then and was also part of the 2013 Aviva Premiership winning squad.

May, who will join long-term wing Adam Thompstone for Leicester is expected to compensate for the departure of Peter Betham and JP Pietersen, who were released by the Tigers at the end of the previous season.

Meanwhile, Slater will now be seen providing an additional edge to Gloucester's scrum which has been found wanting in recent seasons. According to reports, Slater might be accompanied by the addition of Ruan Ackermann, son of new Gloucester head coach Johan from the Super Rugby side Lions for the next season.

Leicester Tigers head coach Matt O'Connor believes May's experience at both domestic and international level will benefit the club.

“We are absolutely delighted to add to the quality of our backs with the signing of Jonny May," said O'Connor.

“Jonny is a proven international and has played a lot of rugby at Premiership and Test level and will add a lot of experience to the squad.

“He is an out-and-out finisher with an outstanding try-scoring record and I think he is a fantastic addition to the group.”

Gloucester rugby director David Humphreys is delighted with the news of Slater joining the Kingsholm outfit.

"We are really happy that Ed Slater has agreed to join Gloucester.

"I have long been an admirer of Ed. Through With his leadership, experience and power he can add to our forward pack and we have tried to bring him to Kingsholm in the past previously.

"We firmly believe that Gloucester is an exciting club to be at, with a bright future under Johan Ackermann, and we are excited to see what Ed can bring to the Cherry and White jersey.

"We've made no secret of our intent to have an abrasive forward unit and Ed's skillset is exactly what we have been looking for.”