Manu Tuilagi: Ex-England star reveals how life in France has ignited urge for Champions Cup glory

At 34-years-old, former England centre Manu Tuilagi had every right to spend the last few seasons of his career in a lower gear. However, the 60-capped international has opted to buck this trend, and is currently enjoying an outstanding run of form with Aviron Bayonnais in the French Top 14.

A decorated alumnus of those who had donned the famous red rose, Tuilagi was a dominant force upon his time in England, as he starred across Leicester Tigers and Sale Sharks throughout a 15-year stint. Despite the accolades of being a two-time Premiership and Six Nations champion, any fan of the past decade and a half would also be quick to point out the injury asterisk, that has unfortunately followed Tuilagi throughout the most part of his Premiership tenure.

However, no such hex has followed the Samoan-born wrecking ball upon his latest venture, as he thrives in France following his 2024 transfer to Aviron Bayonnais. The centre re-found his revered best last year, with his efforts recognised with a place in the 2024/25 Top 14 Team of the Season. Speaking at the Champions Cup media launch in London, Tuilagi revealed what about life in France has helped him get back to his formidable best in the midfield channel.

"It is different [to England]. We are closer to the beach, the weather is a lot warmer. So, yeah, it's nice. We're enjoying it, the family." Tuilagi said. "Before I moved over there, it [Bayonne] was voted the best place to watch rugby in the Top 14. I moved over and asked the boys, is it really that good? And they said, 'Oh, it's good. You have to wait to see it.'

"It didn't disappoint, because in the Basque Country, the people are very passionate, and rugby, it's a lifestyle for them. They go into the market in the afternoon, see their friends and families, enjoy the food, the wine, and then it's a five minute walk to the stadium. So the atmosphere is amazing."

"It's a different way of life. The lifestyle of the French, I love it. For them, they very much work to live. It's important for them to rest. If you go to the bank or the shop before 12 o'clock or after two, you can see that everyone goes out for lunch. I love that. Everyone goes down, sits down their families. I was like, 'Wow.' I remember going to one of the shops. I can see the guy in there in his eye, he's saying 'no, it's lunch time'.

After making his final England appearance in the Bronze Final win over Argentina at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Tuilagi officially stepped aside from England commitments the end of the 2023/24 season. The centre departed Sale after a four year run in Salford, and landed in the Basque Country to begin this new stage in his life. 21 injury-free appearences would follow, with Tuilagi helping Bayonne to a best ever-fourth placed finish in the Top 14 and qualify once again for the Champions Cup.

Bayonne only made their debut in club rugby's pinnacle competition in 2023, with the club maintaining their upward curve to compete against the elite French sides. Tuilagi did not hold back as he expressed his desire to bring Bayonne their first ever European title, with the Basque Country side eager to prove themselves against the super-clubs that dominate the Champions Cup.

"We [Bayonne] have come from the year before, we were fighting to stay up [2023/24] to then the [Top 14] semi final last season. So for us, we're looking to carry that on this season. To be in the Champions Cup, you have to go for it. We were in Challenge Cup last year and if you're in the Challenge Cup, you've got to decide whether you want to to compete in both competitions. But, when you get to the Champions Cup, you want to compete. For us this season, we definitely have the squad, but it's going to be a huge challenge."

"The teams that have won it [Champions Cup], they've got massive squads. If you want to compete in the both the Top 14 and the European Cup you have to have that. Bordeaux, Toulouse, La Rochelle, the two Paris teams [Racing 92 and Stade Francais], they're the big five. It's no it's no wonder those guys are doing really well, because they have the depth in the squad."

Across a 15-year span, Tuilagi’s career had been defined as much by his extraordinary talent as by a succession of major injuries that repeatedly interrupted his momentum. From early hamstring problems in 2009-10 to knee issues in 2011 and persistent back and neck trouble throughout the 2013–14 season, Tuilagi's availability was often sporadic for Leicester Tigers, in order to be back for the England call.

The mid-2010s brought further setbacks, including significant ankle and hamstring problems between 2015 and 2016, followed by a run of shorter but frequent muscular injuries across the 2017–18 campaigns. Even in the later stages of his career, the pattern continued, with a notable hamstring injury in 2020, knee complications in 2021, and carefully managed game time throughout 2022–24 to mitigate recurring soft-tissue concerns.

However, for the first time in recent memory, Tuilagi is running out week upon week for his club, with no end in sight for the former England star. If All Blacks legend Ma'a Nonu has proven anything, it's that even the most physical force of nature can maintain enjoy an extended career with the right balance of training, recovery and drive to succeed. Whilst Nonu keeps tearing it up for Toulon at the age of 43, the experienced and accomplished England ex-pat shared what fires him up week after week.

"I enjoy playing. I think mostly now I'm getting older, [but] I don't know when I'll be when I'll be finished. So, I'm just enjoying it, enjoying that I can still go out there and train for the boys and play."

"It's [Top 14] certainly different. The way the French play the game, a little bit of the structure, and then you've just got to be on your on your toes the whole time. They play what they see, which is refreshing. Obviously, we have the structure to try and compliment that. But the way the French play the game, the French flair is definitely a real thing."

Bayonne commence their Investec Champions Cup campaign this weekend, as they host South African club the DHL Stormers on Friday night. It's a tough task against the unbeaten URC league leaders, yet Tuilagi and co will rise to the challenge for a blockbuster start to their cross-continental campaign.