REVEALED | The two Premiership teams Manu Tuilagi rejected to join Sale
Rugby NewsMonday, 13 July 2020 at 22:33
Manu Tuilagi has revealed why he turned down an approaches from Premiership rivals to join Sale Sharks.
The 29-year-old, who has 43 caps, left Tigers earlier this month after failing to agree terms on an amended contract.
According to rugby journalist Hugh Godwin, the England centre turned down an approach from Pat Lam's men to sign a contract in Manchester through to next summer. There's also been suggestions that Harlequins were interested.
The signing of the centre is a boost for Sale, who currently sit second in the Premiership, but also for England.
He is understood to be fully committing to the Sharks and will be moving house to the North West rather than drive up and down the M6 every day. The centre explained that a lot of his family already live close to the Salford area.
Tuilagi also revealed he was excited to be in Steve Diamond’s squad, who made him feel extremely wanted, while he'll also be joining up with a few of his close friends.
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He'll link up with good pal Denny Solomona with whom he was once sent home from an England training camp after a drinking session.
Diamond told RugbyPass: “Manu and Denny have a bit of a reputation from then and I told them they can only go to those bars in future if I get an invite.”
Tuilagi will link up with Sale at their Carrington training base on Monday and begin working with them ahead of the Premiership’s return next month.
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Manu Tuilagi facts: 10 things you didn’t know about the England star
Here are 10 interesting Manu Tuilagi facts you might not know about the popular England and Sale Sharks centre.
Manu Tuilagi facts:
1. Full name
Etuale Manusamoa 'Manu' Tuilagi is named after the Samoa national rugby team
2. Siblings
He is the younger brother of Freddie, Henry, Alesana, Anitelea and Sanele Vavae Tuilagi, all of whom are Samoan internationals and also played for Leicester. He has another sibling, Julie, who is fa'afafine (people who identify as having a third gender in Samoa.
3. Deportation?
In June 2010, Tuilagi faced possible deportation from the UK after it became known that he had entered the country on a holiday visa six years earlier and had stayed on illegally. After an appeal, he was later granted indefinite leave to remain
4. Sponsored mouthguard
During the 2011 World Cup, he was fined £4,800 after wearing a sponsored mouthguard, breaking the tournament's rules.
5. He was an absolute BEAST in School
Give the other lads a chance mate...
6. Partner
Chantelle is a Manchester University graduate who went on to work in her family's Leicestershire-based construction company as a business development manager.
She now spends the majority of her time at home looking after their daughter, Leilani Lea'auta, whose name translates to 'heavenly flower'.
7. Dog person
Does anyone even like cats?
8. Record-breaker
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.
9. Zodiac sign
His zodiac sign is a Taurus. Dates of Taurus are April 20 - May 20. People born under the Taurus zodiac sign are often incredibly dedicated, reliable and dependable. You could easily compare his style of play to a bull too!
10. Loyalty
He's turned down huge contacts offers from Racing 92 and Toronto Wolfpack in order to remain with Leicester Tigers.
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