Allen was one of five players released by Gloucester in May

Leicester Tigers have completed the signing of former Gloucester centre Anthony Allen.

Allen, 22, left Kingsholm in May and is joined at his new club by second row or blind-side flanker Geoff Parling, 25.

Head coach Richard Cockerill said: "Allen has played a couple of Tests and is still only 22. Hopefully he'll develop in the Tigers environment.

"Geoff Parling is a really good athlete and we hope he will go from strength to strength," he added.

Allen, who was capped by England against New Zealand and Argentina in 2006, told the club website: "I am looking forward to my time at the Tigers.

606: DEBATE Allen's defence is surprisingly good and I think he is massively underrated AMT

"I am looking forward to getting our pre-season games under way and, if selected, getting some game time and taking it from there."

Former Newcastle player Parling added: "I am loving it at Tigers. The guys have helped me settle in and I can't wait to get started."

Leicester have also confirmed that South African fly-half Derick Hougaard has left the club to join Saracens.

Hougaard has been at Welford Road for just one year, scoring 98 points in 13 appearances for the Tigers.

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