England Player of the Year Joe Heyes signs four-year Leicester deal to stay into his 30s

Joe Heyes, named England Men’s Player of the Season this year, has signed a four-year contract extension with Leicester Tigers, keeping the tight-head prop at Mattioli Woods Welford Road into his 30s. The 27-year-old Nottingham-born prop joined the club’s academy at 16 and made his senior debut in 2018.

With Harry Wells having recently departed, Heyes is now the most experienced player in the Leicester squad, approaching 200 appearances for the club. This Sunday he will make his 100th first-team start when Leicester travel to face Sale Sharks in Salford — a milestone that would make him the first prop to achieve the feat for the club since Marcos Ayerza in 2011.

“Leicester Tigers, it’s a place that I have grown to love since arriving as a 16-year-old,” Heyes said. “Over the years, I’ve experienced and felt the passion for this club, through the players, coaches, backroom staff and of course our incredible fans.”

Heyes added that his family have become fully invested in the club and described re-signing as “a privilege”, expressing confidence in the squad’s direction under head coach Geoff Parling. “I’m incredibly excited about the future — we have a squad filled with talent and ambition and I know Geoff shares the same passion and love for this club that I do.”

Parling was equally effusive about securing the prop’s commitment. “Having Joe commit his long-term future here is a great statement on how much the club means to him, and coming through the Academy to winning England Men’s Player of the Season this year is testament to his diligence and work ethic,” the head coach said.

Parling also suggested there is still significant room for development in Heyes’s game. “He’s a brilliant character to have around, and what’s exciting is that I think there’s still huge growth in his game that we look forward to developing.”

Heyes’s standout club form translated directly onto the international stage this season, earning him the top individual honour at the Rugby Awards in London. His contract renewal represents one of Leicester’s most significant pieces of squad-building ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.