Tigers wave Kronfeld on board

Josh Kronfeld - musician, ornithologist and dedicated Greenpeace supporter - took his surfboard to land-locked Leicester yesterday in the sure knowledge of finding a few waves.

After six months of surf on the other side of the world, the revered All Black flanker has joined the high rollers of the British game, aiming to keep them ahead of the pack for two more seasons at least.

He said: 'I intend to be surfing the waves of their success. Surfing on with a winning team.' The landing of a New Zealander who will be 30 next month will make the domestic game all the richer. Once described as a 'silverferned bohemian', Kronfeld is definitely one of the more colourful characters in the sport.

The nearest thing in rugby to an eco-warrior, he has never been afraid to speak out on environmental issues. During the 1995 World Cup in South Africa, he was moved to make a personal stand in protest at French nuclear testing in the Pacific, writing 'No Nukes' on his headgear in large black letters.

He said: 'We keep ruining this world at a pretty fast rate. I am keen to do everything I can to ensure that all the children have the chance to get the same enjoyment out of life. We are heading in a downward spiral in this world and it's not wrong for someone to say: "Hey, this isn't quite right".' His arrival at Welford Road on a two-year contract, with the option of a third, leaves the perennial Premiership champions to choose between two revered openside wing forwards. While Neil Back will welcome an easing of his workload, Kronfeld's signing will leave outstanding uncapped flanker Lewis Moody wondering about his future.

Kronfeld found out for himself in London yesterday that Leicester never allow anything to get between them and the next job. Just as Martin Johnson preferred to train with the Tigers rather than attend the announcement of his appointment as Lions captain last month, so the champions refused to let an awards ceremony interfere with preparations for Saturday's European Cup Final.