Manu Tuilagi has agreed to end his England career on a two-year contract with Bayonne next summer. The 32-year-old, who made his final appearance as a substitute against France on Saturday, will be ineligible to represent England as he joins the top 14 squad.
A number of clubs are interested in Tuilagi’s signature but it is believed the centerpiece visited Bayonne on Monday for a medical following the Six Nations. If he passes all necessary checks, he will join the club in ninth place in the top 14.
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His England career would end at 60 games after making his debut in 2011, but Tuilagi would have had far more wins if not for a series of injuries. In 2020, he ended his 11-year tenure at Leicester Tigers and joined Sale, who had been willing to keep Tuilagi for another year, but doing so and staying under the salary cap proved to be not possible. The Sharks announced the signing of Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu over the weekend to replace Tuilagi.
Tuilagi can list his breakthrough performance against New Zealand in 2012 and his performance against the All Blacks in the 2019 World Cup semi-final as his greatest achievements in an England shirt. Steve Borthwick spoke last week about how he hoped Tuilagi would stay in England – and therefore be eligible for selection – but it is understood the Rugby League has yet to offer him an “enhanced” contract for next season.
Tuilagi’s move means no fewer than eight players from Borthwick’s 2023 World Cup squad will travel to France next season, with Billy Vunipola and Kyle Sinckler all set to The number could reach double digits. Borthwick will be able to offer enhanced contracts to 25 players – Jamie George and Maro Itoje the only players from his squad to receive offers so far – but in the meantime, players heading to France Still going on.
“Not all details have been confirmed,” Borthwick said. “I’m waiting to have them and understand them.”
