‘I’m clearly disappointed’ – Mauger

Aaron Mauger has revealed he is "devastated" after news broke that he will leave Leicester following Saturday's match against Northampton.

Mauger, who took over the reins from Richard Cockerill when he was sacked in January, led the Tigers to Anglo-Welsh Cup glory last weekend.

But on Monday it was announced that former head coach Matt O'Connor would return to the club, meaning ex All Black Mauger is to move on.

"Definitely I wanted to stay and see it through for the rest of the season," he told BBC Leicester Sport.

"I was kept in the loop the whole way through, but I'm clearly disappointed and devastated at the outcome.

"The club have made that decision in the best interests of the club, and what they believe going forward, so I have to respect that and move on."

On the back of that Anglo-Welsh Cup win, Leicester return to Premiership duty looking to climb from fifth place in the coming weeks.

"Where the group are at the moment is pretty exciting," added Mauger about the shape he feels he is leaving the club in. "We have really turned things around over the last eight or nine weeks.

"There is a real positive energy in the group and that has been reflected in some really good performances. Unfortunately that wasn't enough.

"We have a big game on Saturday against Saints and we look forward to starting a home run for the play-offs."