According to reports in the French press, Leicester and England centre Manu Tuilagi could be in line to make a sensational move across the channel, with French giants Toulouse believed to be interested in his signature.
It remains to be seen how much truth there is to the report, but according to sources of RMC Sport, Tuilagi has been made the number one target by Toulouse’s new coaching staff. Should he join, he would link up again with former teammate Toby Flood.
After losing 18-14 to Clermont in the Top 14 semi-final at the weekend and waving goodbye to Guy Noves, who is off to take on the challenge of the French national team, in the process, thoughts have firmly turned towards next season.
The Rouges et Noirs have been remarkably quiet in the transfer market so far, with only three confirmed signings – Tuilagi’s Leicester teammate David Mélé, Fijian sevens player Semi Kunatani and Bayonne prop Gert Muller.
But with Albi coach Ugo Mola confirmed as Noves’ replacement and one of two club legends – Fabien Pelous or Emile N’Tamack – expected to be announced as director of rugby in the near future, it appears the European heavyweights are ready to flex their muscles in the transfer market once again.
Tuilagi is contracted at Leicester until 2016, but he could yet be a shrewd target for Toulouse. After struggling with a groin injury that allowed him just four matches last season, a ghastly year reached a catastrophic climax when he was axed from the England squad for the World Cup after being found guilty of assaulting a police officer.
It would be understandable if Tuilagi were feeling disillusioned with life in England at the moment. A move to France would of course kill his short term England future, but after featuring only intermittently at best over the past few seasons, and seeing Jonathan Joseph cement himself in the 13 shirt that used to belong to him, a French sojourn may seem like a very attractive option right now.
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
I guess it’s the perfect time to approach him and he could find a new lease of life as Wilkinson and Armitage did in Toulon. He won’t play in the World Cup and if he goes to France he won’t play for England in 2016, but he would still be eligible for the Lions in 2017 and could consider a return in time for the 2019 World Cup if he wished.
Personally I hope Tuilagi stays and fights for his place with England, either at 12 or 13 because we have to keep hold of our players with genuine quality. But if he were to go you could understand why.
Hard to say until after the WC. If England go well, say 1/4, semi finals, then Lancaster may, or may not chance his arm with Tui again. If it all goes pear shaped, then it might be SL who’s fighting for his place… & so a new slate? Who knows?
Personally, I doubt the wisdom of picking a serial offender… again. Unfortunately for him, Tui appears a Peter Pan figure who ‘stay(s) forever young’ (as Bob sang).
If England do shut him out, he (Tui, not Bob) may well take up cycling, whilst wearing a blue & white striped T shirt, a string of onions around his neck & sporting French loaves sticking out of his bike basket.
As for his ‘genuine quality’, he may suit the T14 in the Bastareaud (R1) mould, as they both seem to lack a kicking & decent passing game.
Can’t see this happening at all. It would certainly cause SL a real headache – the media outcry to include him would be huge!
We need to keep players like Manu in the Premierships; that’s why we have the rules.
It’s lost on me how any England player would want to move to France when it sacrifice your chances of playing for your country.
It would split public opinion even more than Armitage – ‘England’s best players should be playing’ on one side, ‘money grabbing thug can do one’ on the other. If we do well at the world cup, particularly if we look good at 13 and full back, the first argument will be diminshed.
‘…how any England player would want to move to France’.
As a wild guess – Lack of England game time. Recognition. Winning things. Money (to secure future).
Not sure Tui could say he’s had a lack of England game time. SL has picked him when fit, but he hasn’t been match fit for a long time.
Dare I suggest he moved to a different Premiership club where the players don’t spend the majority of their time injured?! In other words almost any other Premiership club.
Dazza
You’re right about TUI’s game time.
I was thinking more Armitage than than Tui as to why ‘any England player would want to move to France’.
And if Cipriani is charged he too may now well wonder why HE didn’t go ‘French’ straight after returning from abroad.
The lure of France shouldn’t just appeal to Tuilagi; Hartley could be attracted also!
Let’s face it, after the 2011 World Cup behaviour, England can’t tolerate those who are incapable of behaving. If they stay, they may well still not get selected. The french clubs can offer them loads of money, and some will turn a blind eye to a history of misbehaviour; a number of french club owners have expressed their displeasure at having to release players during the international windows – why not stuff your squad full, not only of those who officially retired from international rugby, but those who are unpickable?!
To be fair Hartley has recently turned down a big offer from Montpellier in order to stay legible for England. Whatever your opinion of him; he loves playing for England.
Jacob, I wan’t aware of that. Did he turn Monpol down after the latest ban, or was it while his England prospects remained rosy?
It was around Jan/Feb time I believe – so before his latest ban.
He may well regret that if he doesn’t back in for England. However, I can’t see that happening. Hartley is a brilliant player and once his ban has ended I expect him to come back into the fold.
Well with Guy Noves moving on (up??), and other clubs bringing in lots of imports (mostly the SA team coming to Montpelier) I suspect that Toulouse feel that they have to keep up.
Who knows, but it has the feel of publicity for Toulouse more than anything else.
I’d love just a shred of good news on the Leicester front.
They’re currently relaying the Welford Road pitch so that dirt track down the side won’t be there next season… that’s about as good as it gets at the moment I think!
Isn’t Aaron Mauger turning up as coach nxt season?
If so, although it’s early to tell, he might make a diff by adding some subtlety to their back play.
Even get the 1st, 2nd rows straightening their running lines & off loading in the tackle.
Good news for Leicester? Perhaps & for rugby viewers who enjoy watching tries being scored across the park, but we’ll see.
Shit, I liked David Mele.
As a Tigers Fan, if he is not up to the fight to repair his reputation for both England and Leicester then as far as I’m concerned he can go and we’ll sign someone up to the fight.
The problem for Tigers the last two seasons is we can’t keep a squad fit. We’ve been without key players, Dan Cole, Ed Slater, Tom Croft, Owen Williams, Anthony Allen for a large chunk of the season, not to mention new signings Loamanu, Bai, Barberi, that haven’t had a run in the side. Couple all that in with the fact that at some points this season we’ve been without 20 odd players for our squad the fact that we finished 3rd is more than remarkable. Don’t forget, we beat Toulon moneybags, and played excellent rugby at the Ricoh.
Next season looks promising for us. There is new vision with Mauger coming in to replace Matt O’Connor who should been replaced long before now. I have no doubt Mauger will tell Cockers to butt out of backs discussion and we may just get a backs tactic that isn’t so damn predictable. The introduction of genuine class from Peter Betham, the option to rotate between Burns and WIlliams (or even potentially Burns @ 10 and Owen @ 12) and moving Tait back to 13 could revitalise a back line that this season has lacked direction. Camacho returning to fitness could be the change up we need, and hopefully someone will screw Goneva’s head back on.
In the forwards, we have lost some key stalwarts in Deacon, Parling, and Salvi. However I think the signings of Fitzgerald from Chiefs, and O’Connor from the Blues are movements in the right direction. O’Connor held his own against a very strong Crusaders back row and a change of personal may help revitalise a back row that has had penalty issues this season. Williams from Worcester I think is a key signing, with Gibson off down the road and Croft scarily close to joining the “permanently injured” club, Williams will impress a lot of people with his work rate. Lachlan McCaffery has impressed in a poor Welsh side and it will interesting if he can handle the step up. If he can I think he will be an equally shrewd signing. Also don’t forget that with Ayerza, Mulipola, Cole, Rizzo, and Balmain we have one of the best set of props in the league and Youngs, Ghiraldini offer an excellent pair of Hookers with Thacker providing adequate cover.
We have a strong squad, and the addition of marquee 12 and potentially a replacement for Manu and I honestly think we’ve got a squad with the ability to put real pressure on Saints, Bath and Sarries next season.
I’m going to come out and say something probably contentious – I think this is going to be a common problem with players who’ve earned their national place under residency rules because the desire to rep that country isn’t as strong as it is with those who really do identify with it as their country… So the “play here to play for” isn’t as compelling a reason to stay.
I’ll follow up by saying that I have no doubt that Tui was/is proud to represent England as it is his adopted country, he developed here and he has been for a long, long time. No qualms with him playing for England at all. But, like his brothers, he seems to me to be a south sea islander at heart so some sort of financial calculation comes into it for him more than others who have grown up dreaming of pulling on that white shirt – go to France, don’t play for England, earn XXX more. Wales have had similar with naturalised players (south african Blues back rower who’s name escapes me).
That is contentious Brighty.
But you’re probably right. I suspect (or possibly, I hope) that this is not the case with Tuilagi. The only thing I would say is that this is more likely for older players who find themselves as accidental internationals, and don’t foresee a long and prosperous international career.
By accidental internationals I mean the sort that come here (or to France) to earn, and find themselves prospering and picking up some caps along the way. None of which I would condemn, by the way.
There appear to be a few appearing in Scotland at the moment, and completely off the top of my head I would include the likes of Waldrom, Rokuduguni, Hughes, Botha, and a little further back Hape, Flutey, Vainakolo etc, etc
I think Devon Malcolm successfully sued national papers for the same kind of opinion in the 90’s brighty
That was different Grundy – that article made a big deal out of Malcolm’s ethnicity, some pretty repulsive references to colour, etc. I’m not doing that.
brighty ‘… he (Tui) seems to me to be a south sea islander at heart…’; I would coco. He, ‘like his brothers’, tries to run through or over people!
And doesn’t ‘some sort of financial calculation…’ come into it for all ‘pro’ players?
Brighty
You are right on this one Garw Boy!!
Unless you ‘feel’ you belong to a nation you will never really achieve as an international and don’t ‘want’ success as much as home grown players do.
I do find it funny that having been hailed as the greatest England back from the SH since ……the last greatest English back from the SH………..
Tuilagi now has acquired pariah status and has England fans on this page saying ‘Pack your bags and go’.
These would be the same England fans who literally came in their white shorts after Tuilagi’s oft BBC-shown exploits v the ABs in Aut series of 2012.
Talk about fickle. Heck next we’ll be hearing that England haven’t won any meaningful silverware for 12 years….oh that’s right they haven’t have they!
Hi Enoch
Haven’t much (ever, thus far?) demurred from what you’ve stated. However, on this occasion & in respect of your 1st sentence, surely Sonny Parker for example, didn’t give 2nd best, as I recall, when playing for Wales, whether or not he ‘felt’ that he belonged to that nation?
Whether Tui has genuine allegiance for England, only he can honestly answer, although I read previously something about his being proud etc to do so.
It seems to me that players develop a team affinity (@ club, national or other level), or @ least a loyalty to their ‘brothers’ on the field, if not necessarily ‘feeling’ like a ‘foreign national’. This may depend on how long they’ve been in a country I’d guess, although I suspect that even this may be @ different levels for individual players.
I’d also guess that Jonathan Davies (I heard that he is unfortunately injured?) for instance, ‘feels’ pretty Welsh even though he was born in Blighty.
Ideally players would or should(?) play for their country of birth, I agree, but alas, this concept went out the window with professional rugby after… c.1995?
Anyway, these are some of my thoughts.
Anything further on yours?
Regds
Wow. you’re having fun building straw men here. I can’t see a single comment “on this page” from an England fan saying ‘pack your bags’.
Enoch,
I would suggest that Tuilagi IS the greatest English back from the SH. Period.
Not sure he has the status of a pariah either. I think it more accurate (I believe you like accuracy?) to state that with the emergence of Jonathan Joseph, there is a feeling amongst English fans that he will not be missed as much as may have been expected.
Blah blah I hate England blah blah.
Look how much time you could’ve saved, Enoch!
So – the thread that we see with the stay to play rules is this and works well for NZ players and agents between world cups.
1) Play world cup based on appearance for Blues/ Chiefs/ Hurricanes/
2) Win world cup or not
3) Go to Japan/France on a 1-3 year contract
4) Come home and make yourself eligible for the national team.
I think English players will follow that trend, and I have not seen anywhere in the framework agreement with the RFU which prevents that. I
t wasn’t that long ago that the Shamartiage deal with Bath was being touted. An example of best practice for the scenario I have just explained. Perhaps?
Gerry
Surely this is a leap 2 far into the future?
It’s only Oz who’ve revised their rules for this WC in order to allow their overseas players to return to the fold. Presumably because they’er within their rights & they want to WIN the thing.
You appear to be lumping NZ in with Oz, as, to the best of my knowledge, only Jerome Kaino has played for an extended period of time abroad in Japan & returned to the national team; Carter’s aborted 6 month ‘sabbatical’ being the other ‘exception’.
The AB’s usually dump ’em after their deemed sell by date, as is soon to be evidenced by the exodus from their ranks following this Cup, rather than re-sign them.
What have Gerry’s comments got to do with Australia? They have a different model, whereas NZ and England use the same model.
Liam Messam is about to do the same thing too; as did SBW.
I don’t think he is suggesting exodus; simply that we may see it happen as we have in NZ.
Jacob
He may answer for himself, as he’s surely relating an Oz ‘model’… of their players playing abroad & returning for the WC due to a rule revision?… although it wasn’t clear or his point 1 was in jest?
I don’t understand what interpretation of his statement is though?
His post is comparing NZ and England – he hasn’t actually mentioned Aus.
The Aus model is not the same as Englands and NZ’s; and therefore not comparable situations.
NZ have players (Messam, Kaino, Carter, SBW etc.) that have left between WC to make some money; then returned in time to be qualified for the WC. Gerry is clearing wondering if we will see the same in England since the models are directly comparable.
Jac
So there you have it, although quite so clearly. Gerry’s view that NZ players going abroad between WCs hardly seemed to me to constitute a ‘model’. Exceptions more like. Most ABs stay @ home.
Of the few you mention (Messam, Kaino, Carter, SBW – etc???) I have mostly dealt with & SBW left league for union & went back again (possibly as he was never a 1st choice AB). Now that he’s ‘back’?,who knows, he may or may not be picked.
I mentioned Oz as this new? ‘model’ seemed a better fit for them; i.e. in refining their rules to enable players to return for the WC. Although I doubt the ‘model’ is endorsed by either Oz or NZ Unions.
Gerry didn’t mention an ‘exodus’. I did, because it is going to happen, albeit NOT as any sort of ‘model’, but because of age & commercial opportunity.
Regds England players going off shore, in the end £ talks, esp in a short career. It’s likely if they’re good enough, but unlikely for more than 2 yrs at a time if they have national ambitions.
However, the more successful a national side is, players are, IMO, more likely to stay ‘loyal’. Their reps enhanced by doing so & with the advantage of making them more valuable commodities, thus enabling higher leveraging of salaries.
Jac II
… although NOT quite so clearly?
I think it’s both. For Oz see O’Conner, Munn this season alone. For NZ see Nonu, Carter…The real point is the framework agreement the RFU has drafted doesn’t seem to protect against that trend emerging.
Gerry
Still a bit unclear if I’ve fully understood yr pt/s, but but my comments to Jacob, who claimed to do so, may/may not clarify my grasp of your views on ‘the thread’?