England Saxons and Leicester back Billy Twelvetrees has agreed to leave the Tigers and move to Kingsholm to play for Premiership rivals Gloucester.

The former Bedford Blues star has been a regular replacement at flyhalf for England and Tigers pivot Toby Flood when injured but Twelvetrees does not favour playing in the position.

Twelvetrees is said to have told his team-mates of the move which was brought on as he wanted to play more in his favoured position of inside centre in order to boost his international career.

Leicester Tigers Director of Rugby Richard Cockerill said,"Billy has played for us in every game he has been available apart from two this season.

"We have put three years of development into Billy and he was coming on nicely in our environment.

"If he does not want to stay and fight for his spot, that is disappointing," he told the Leicester Mercury.

Former Gloucester back Anthony Allen is in the process of extending his deal with the Tigers which could make regular selection for Twelvetrees difficult.

Gloucester have signed Twelvetrees as a replacement for the Samoan tweeter Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu who is said to be close to agreeing a move to Japan.

Former England centre and Vice Captain Mike Tindall is also off contract at the end of this season and without the financial support from his England Elite Squad inclusion is unlikely to get a contract extension.

According to reports Leicester are looking at signing London Irish back Daniel Bowden, Newcastle Falcons Jimmy Gopperth although Gopperth has also been linked to London Irish.