Tigers scoop Euro jackpot

Martin Johnson's treble-winning Leicester squad have scooped £450,000 in bonuses as champions of England and Europe.

The figure may be modest compared to the total of £1million Liverpool paid their players for their treble, but it is still a record for club rugby.

Leicester's unparalleled success in winning the English Premiership, the Zurich Championship and the European Heineken Cup has been worth at least £20,000 a man for their leading players.

The bonuses will not break the Leicester bank, though. Having made the only profit reported by any leading club since the game turned professional six years ago, the Tigers will report another next month for the season just ended, this time of more than £100,000.

Dean Richards and John Wells, the old back row colleagues responsible for taking the Tigers to three Premierships in three seasons, will be rewarded with improved contracts as manager and coach respectively, making them the best paid in the Premiership.

Leicester chairman Peter Tom said: 'What Dean and John have achieved in three years - and the way they have done it - is just incredible. In some respects, they have succeeded beyond our dreams.'

Three of the Tigers' longest-serving players, the front row trio of Graham Rowntree, Richard Cockerill and Darren Garforth, are being granted a testimonial season starting in September which could be worth £100,000 each.

Rowntree and Garforth are the props on whom Leicester have built their empire, while Cockerill has been playing second fiddle this season to England hooker Dorian West.

They greet with contempt any suggestion that they will rest on their laurels.

Rowntree said: 'You can't sit back and say you've done it all. Why be happy when there is something else on offer, especially when you have the players capable of winning it?'