Orlando Bailey outlines his reasons for switching Bath Rugby for...

The fly-half In an attempt to play more regular rugby in the Gallagher Prem, Orlando Bailey departed Bath Rugby to join Leicester

Tigers prior to the 2025–2026 season.

After making his debut at the age of 18, Bailey, now 23, had another year left on his contract with Bath, the champions, but he was let

to leave his boyhood club after making 99 appearances in five seasons. Bailey, who can play fly-half, full-back, or centre, has nearly

300 points for Bath. However, his playing opportunities for the upcoming season appeared limited due to the signing of a contract

extension by Scotland star Finn Russell, the arrival of Santi Carreras from Gloucester Rugby, and the rise of Ciaran Donoghue.

Bath also have depth at 10 with 22-year-old promising talent Sam Harris set to return from injury for the start of next season.

The former England U20s back, who played for the national team against the Barbarians at Twickenham in 2022 and was named to

the England senior men’s squad prior to the Six Nations, said: “I am fortunate and excited to be moving to a historic club, with a bright

future and I’m feeling ready to take on this new challenge.” I’ve always appreciated the Leicester Tigers, and I hope to help them

succeed on the pitch in the future.

“It’s the right time for me to take on a new challenge outside of my comfort zone, where I can continue to grow as a player and person.

I’m excited to be joining a really strong group, which has an exciting blend of quality younger guys and experienced players.

“I’ve now played away at Mattioli Woods Welford Road four times, and each time I’ve been amazed by the passion of the crowd, the

devoted supporters, and how the team thrives there.”

Since I was fourteen years old, I have thoroughly enjoyed my ten years as a member of Bath Rugby. It has been a dream come true,

from progressing through the academy age groups to making my first team debut with some of my closest friends. Leaving such a

unique community of players and staff behind is really tough, but it feels like the appropriate moment for me to move on to the next

phase of my life. I want to express my gratitude to all of the club members for their love and support over the years.

Despite the transfer, Bailey will have fierce competition for the number 10 shirt at Leicester because the team recently announced the

signing of Agen’s Billy Searle and former Wallabies star James O’Connor. With twice World Cup winner Handre Pollard leaving this

summer, Leicester’s new head coach, Geoff Parling, needed a fresh playmaker to bolster his backline.

“Orlando is a young player, only 23 years old, but he is also an experienced player with almost a hundred senior games under his belt

for Bath,” Tigers general manager Richard Wilks continued.

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