Manu Tuilagi Bids Farewell to England and Looks Ahead to New Challenge in France
As Manu Tuilagi prepares for his last home game with Sale before a summer move to France, the rugby union world braces for the arrival of a new young talent – his three-year-old son, Leo, who has just started attending rugby tots sessions in the Cheshire area. This development has set off alarms for parents of other mini-rugby players, who will soon have to contend with the Tuilagi clan’s expansion to the Bayonne region in the southwest of France.
Tuilagi’s departure from Sale and the English game will be a poignant occasion, as the sold-out Premiership clash with Leicester on Friday marks the end of his four-year stint with the club. “It’s quite emotional to know that this will be the last home game at Sale,” he said. “I’ve loved it here. Four years has gone by so quickly, it feels like I just came here yesterday.”
The fact that Sale, who are still in the hunt for a playoff spot, are facing the club where Tuilagi made his name and gave many injury-plagued years of service adds an extra layer of significance to the encounter. “I was actually thinking that,” he added. “What are the odds of my last game here being against Leicester? It makes it even more special.”
Throughout his illustrious career, Tuilagi has experienced a rollercoaster of events, from fines for misconduct to dramatic visa issues that nearly led to his deportation. Reflecting on these episodes, the 32-year-old center acknowledged the mixture of emotions they evoke. “I’ll think, ‘Ah, you idiot, Manu, why did you do that?’. But you’ve done it, so that’s life. It’s in the past, so there’s no point beating yourself up about it really.”
“My favourite moment, I think, was 2018 when I came back for England,” he said. “I’d been out for a long time. I think I got on for the last 10 or 15 minutes. For me, that was quite big.”
With his England career now behind him, Tuilagi looks forward to his next challenge in France, where he will join his brother Henry in the Bayonne region. “It will be a nice place and my brother, Henry, is about three hours away (in Perpignan). That will be nice, to be able to see them a bit more. I think it will be a good experience, not just for me but for my family. It will be something different, something new, which is exciting.”
As Tuilagi departs, he offers his endorsement of Ollie Lawrence, the player who is set to take over his mantle as a midfield powerhouse in the England setup. “He’s a complete player, in terms of the attributes he has,” Tuilagi said. “He’s got the physicality, good skills, he can play a bit as well, and he’s a good lad, which is important. I think he’ll be huge for England for a long time.”
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