REPORTS: Manu Tuilagi may have NOT played his last game for England

Sunday, 28 March 2021 at 10:43

bySteven Smith

England centre Manu Tuilagi could now stay at Sale Sharks after missing out in his big money move to Racing 92.

As first reported by RUCK, the Mail Online have now confirmed that Tuilagi has opened talks about extending his contract at the AJ Bell Stadium.

His contract was set to expire this summer after signing a one-year deal and had been linked with moves to France and Japan.

By staying in the Premiership, Tuilagi will keep alive his England chances and Eddie Jones has struggled to find a successor for the powerful centre.

Tuilagi is around five weeks away from a return to action after tearing the ligament against Northampton in late September, ruling him out of the autumn and Six Nations.

Sale boss Alex Sanderson revealed a positive Manu Tuilagi injury update: “Manu’s walking and learning salsa, believe it or not. If you’re hiking and doing salsa you can’t be far off playing rugby.

EDITORS PICKS:

“The salsa is for his ankle and a wife of one of the players is taking (coronavirus) tests because she’s able to teach him salsa, so he’s been learning that.

“He’s going to perform for the boys in around five weeks. I haven’t watched him salsa, but he’s good with his feet for a big guy.

“I went for a 7.5km hike with him around Macclesfield Forest last Friday and he was on great form."

Warren Gatland named five England players as ‘certainties’ for the 2021 Lions tour

Speaking to the BBC in November 2019, Warren Gatland was asked by Ugo Monye to name five certainties for his Lions XV to face South Africa in 2021.

One year on, let's look at who he picked:

1. Jamie George

Position: Hooker

Age: 30

How's he doing? George has continued to star for England and is 1/20 to make the 2021 squad. Almost the first name on the team sheet right now following his hat-trick against Georgia.

DID YOU KNOW? He is an Aston Villa fan with his current favourite player being Jack Grealish.

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2. Maro Itoje

Position: Lock/Back-row

Age: 26

How's he doing? Still one of the best in the world. Definitely a certainty.

DID YOU KNOW? Gloucester speedster Ollie Thorley is Itoje’s cousin, after his grandfather re-married a Nigerian woman who is the Saracens lock’s aunt.

3. Tom Curry

Position: Flanker:

Age: 22

How's he doing? His performances across 2019 saw him nominated for the World Rugby player of the year. His stock has continued to rise since then. A certainty.

DID YOU KNOW? Tom studied at Oundle School – where the master in charge of rugby was their uncle and former England international John Olver.

4. Anthony Watson

Position: Back-three

Age: 26

How's he doing? Injury has ravaged his year, although he did make his return for England against Wales in the Autumn Nations Cup. Outstanding on his day, but not a certainty for the squad right now.

DID YOU KNOW? His uncle, Mark Watson, was one of the Concorde pilots. His two brothers, Marcus (Wasps) & Callum (Loughborough Students) are also rugby players

5. Manu Tuilagi

Position: Centre

Age: 29

How's he doing? Ruled out until at least May with an achilles injury, his chances of touring are starting to fade.

DID YOU KNOW? He became England’s youngest RWC player at 20 years and 115 days against Argentina, being 15 days younger than Jonny Wilkinson, who set the record in 1999.