The hunt for a 10 goes on though.
Handre Pollard was superb in the Tiger’s comeback win over Sale under the Friday night lights, landing seven out of seven from the tee and sparking the fightback with a pinpoint crossfield kick to unleash Ollie Hassell-Collins.
The 31-year-old is returning to South Africa and the Bulls at the end of the campaign however and, with Jamie Shillcock also bound for French side Brive, a big-name stand-off is top of the shopping list.
Munster’s Jack Crowley reportedly considered a big-money offer from the Midlands, external before renewing terms with Munster. Gloucester’s Gareth Anscombe, now off to Bayonne, was apparently under consideration. Even an audacious succession plan that featured England and Northampton’s Fin Smith has been floated., external
Parling won’t have much time to get his feet under the table, before he has to do some heavy telephone lifting to sell the upwardly mobile Tigers to some stand-offs.