The early favourite to sign Manu Tuilagi, and why Gatland may have a say in it
Since the confirmation of the departure of Manu Tuilagi from Leicester Tigers, speculation has been rife as to which club the England centre will land at.
Tuilagi is one of six high profile players to reject new, cut-price contracts with the Premiership side and the club confirmed his departure last night. The squad were asked to accept reduced wages by way of new deals, albeit with an inbuilt ‘mechanism through which a proportion of forgone earnings could be reclaimed when the Club returns to profitability.’ Tuilagi, Noel Reid, Kyle Eastmond, Greg Bateman, Telusa Veainu and unofficially Jordan Taufua will all depart, all failed to sign new contracts.
This leaves the six clubless at an awkward time of the season. The vast majority of the northern hemisphere clubs having wrapped up their recruitment, and combined with tightened purse strings thanks to the pandemic, it’s likely all will have to take a hit should they find a club willing to take them.
Tuilagi, however, is an exceptional case and his headline-grabbing departure will have pricked ears and chequebooks around the globe. In the 24 hours since it became official, the blockbusting back has been linked with Steve Diamond’s Sale Sharks, Top 14 giants Racing 92, nouveau riche ProD2 side Beziers and Canadian Rugby League newcomers Toronto Wolfpack.
Yet RugbyPass understands that Toulouse are the early favourites to sign the Leicester star. The aristocrats of French rugby have enjoyed a revival in the last two seasons but their recruitment ahead of season 2020/21 has been relatively modest. Tuilagi could be a perfect fit in a midfield that includes French international Sofiane Guitoune and as well as Lucas Tauzin, Pita Aki and Pierre Fouyssac.
For all that, it could be external factors that put a stop to Tuilagi leaving England. It’s being widely reported that England head coach Eddie Jones is set on the Samoan born centre staying in England, where he can remain available for Test selection. The 29-year-old will be 32 by the next Rugby World Cup, and Jones’ likely still harbours designs on bringing him to the tournament.
Leaving Jones aside, Warren Gatland and the British and Irish Lions may too have a significant impact on his staying in England, for at least another season. While playing in the Home Nations is not a technical stipulation for Lions inclusion, Gatland selection blessing may be needed if Tuilagi does choose the Top 14.
Clearly, if Tuilagi isn’t playing international rugby in the lead up to the tour of South Africa, it may not play well with Gatland, who will likely view the Guinness Six Nations as the ultimate testing ground ahead of the celebrated tour.
However, if the centre is getting regular game time with Stade Toulousain at the right end of the Top 14 and Heineken Champions Cup, Chiefs head Gatland might be convinced go with the Tuilagi, who won a Test cap in the 2013 tour of Australia and who was a star of England’s 2020 Six Nations tournament and Rugby World Cup run in Japan in 2019.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments