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.'