Noon and Ugiagbe retire at the end of the season

Leicester Tigers forwards Becky Noon and Ofure Ugiagbe are set to retire from rugby at the end of the 2023/24 season.

Both players started last year’s Championship play-off final and the team’s first Allianz Premiership women’s rugby games and their contributions have been invaluable to the team’s short history.

Ugiagbe started the team’s first competitive game in last year’s North 1 Championship and was the first female player to score a try at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

The prop was also the first female joint to reach 20 appearances for the club.

Having started his rugby journey at the University of Leicester, Ugiagbe also played for Loughborough Lightning throughout his career.

Commenting on her decision to retire, Ugiagbe said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my two seasons with the Tigers and am so grateful to end my playing career here.

“I can’t wait to see the girls go from strength to strength as a unit and grow as a playing group! It’s the right time to hang up my boots and I’m really excited to focus more on family life”

Noon, meanwhile, was recently awarded the Coaches’ Player of the Season at last week’s Awards Night and has shown an incredible work rate this year, topping the Tigers charts for attacking arrivals in breakdowns and successful tackles, while she occupies , also ranked sixth overall in the league in tackles (16.9 per game).

Having started sixteen games this season, with four appearances on the bench, the versatile forward has been a permanent presence throughout his two years at the club, starting games on either side of the second row and in all three positions across the board from behind.

After starting rugby at Market Bosworth aged just four, Noon also played for England Under-20s, Loughborough Lightning and Lichfield before joining the Tigers.

Asked about her decision to step down, Noon said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Tigers: it’s a dream come true and I couldn’t be prouder to have played a part in this inaugural team and created something really special.

“Once a Tiger, always a Tiger. I will continue to support and encourage the girls, but now from the sidelines.”

Both players will play for the club in tomorrow’s home game against Sale Sharks, where supporters can give the pair the warm send-off they deserve.