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Veteran Rugby Union Star Manu Tuilagi Ends England Career, Signs with French Club Bayonne
In a significant move for the England national rugby union team, veteran center Manu Tuilagi has agreed to join French club Bayonne at the end of the current season, bringing an end to his illustrious international career. The 32-year-old, who came off the bench in England’s narrow 33-31 defeat to France last Saturday, earned his 60th and final cap for his adopted country, where he has been a standout performer for over a decade.
Tuilagi, who initially followed his older brothers to Leicester as a raw teenage rugby union prospect from Samoa, has had a career punctuated by a multitude of injuries. However, he has managed to achieve remarkable success, winning a Grand Slam and reaching a Rugby World Cup Final, while also touring with the prestigious British and Irish Lions. Throughout his time with the England national rugby union team, Tuilagi has been a fan favorite, known for his destructive style of play in the midfield.
“Tuilagi’s departure from the England national rugby union team marks the end of an era, as the team prepares to navigate the upcoming Rugby World Cup and other major tournaments without the influence of this legendary figure.”
After it became apparent that his current club, Sale, could not offer him favorable terms within the confines of the Premiership salary cap, Tuilagi was forced to explore opportunities abroad. Several French and Japanese clubs expressed interest, and with the realization that he would not receive one of the new “hybrid” contracts from the Rugby Football Union (RFU), the move to Bayonne emerged as the most enticing scenario for the experienced center.
- Rugby union enthusiasts and fans of the England national team will undoubtedly miss Tuilagi’s presence on the pitch, as he has been a driving force behind some of the team’s most memorable victories in recent years, including the shock win over the All Blacks in 2012 and the march to the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final.
As Tuilagi embarks on the next chapter of his rugby union career in France, the England national team will be tasked with finding a suitable replacement to fill the void left by this iconic player. The team’s performance and results in the upcoming rugby union competitions will be closely monitored, as fans eagerly await to see how the squad adapts to the loss of such a renowned figure within the England national rugby union team.
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