Sharks and Bears hunting Tuilagi, but they may have to beat Japan offer
Sale Sharks and Bristol Bears are ‘chasing hard’ for the signature of Leicester Tigers centre Manu Tuilagi, who dramatically departed the club this week after failing to take a pay cut contract this week.
Tuilagi’s shock exit from Welford Road – seemingly bringing to an end two decades of Tuilagi family player involvement at the Steve Borthwick coached side – has been the talk of English rugby.
But he won’t lack for suitors.
One source has told RugbyPass that a lucrative offer from Japan is already on the table. However, leaving England will almost certainly end his England career and could potentially end his chances of touring with the British and Irish Lions in their 2021 of South Africa.
Earlier in the week RugbyPass reported that Toulouse are leading the French charge for the player. The club’s recruitment has been relatively light to date and aristocrats of French rugby could prove more attractive to the English centre than the likes of Racing 92 – who he has snubbed at least once – or Beziers, who are still, for now, in the ProD2.
Staying in the Gallagher Premiership, for the time being at least, could yet be the most likely scenario.
Steve Diamond’s Sale are eager to lure the England centre north, and could offer him a relatively local landing spot just 100 miles up the road. Sharks had an acrimonious parting with Chris Ashton mid-season, free-ing up significant cash and salary-cap space to fund a potential move. The Daily Mail reported last week reported that Tuilagi could potentially have his Sale contract topped up by Leicester to meet the terms of his current Tigers’ contract, said to be worth £500,000 per season.
He wouldn’t be the first Tuilagi to play centre for Sale, with older brother Anitelea earning 29 caps for the Sharks between 2008 and 2011.
Meanwhile, Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears are also pursuing the 29-year-old. The billionaire-backed club are inevitably linked with high profile players from around the globe, but RugbyPass understands that the club have genuine designs on the Samoan born back.
The Bears lost the services of hard-running, big body centre Will Hurrell due to a stroke in January, and Lam may feel the opportunity of adding a world-class operator to their current list of specialist centres – which includes Siale Piutau, Piers O’Connor and Sam Bedlow – is one he can’t turn up.
Meanwhile, The Telegraph are reporting that he could yet stay at Welford Road, with “11th-hour” talks continuing between Tuilagi and his now-former club’s management still ongoing. Tuilagi, who has been at Leicester his entire career, could be prepared to do a u-turn.
It really looks like the England star can have his pick.
Comments on RugbyPass
Not sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
24 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
24 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
24 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
5 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
5 Go to comments