England centre Manu Tuilagi is poised to depart from Sale Sharks at the season’s close, a decision expected to mark the conclusion of his international rugby career.
The 32-year-old player has committed to a two-year tenure with French Top 14 outfit Bayonne.
Current RFU policy rules that players competing overseas are ineligible for the national team. Tuilagi’s illustrious international journey includes 60 caps since his 2011 debut, during which he tallied 20 tries, playing in three World Cups, and capped once for the British and Irish Lions.
Tuilagi joins a growing list of English talents relocating to French clubs for their professional careers, including former captain Owen Farrell moving to Racing 92 and Lewis Ludlam transitioning to Toulon from Northampton Saints. Since making his debut as a dynamic 20-year-old against Wales, Tuilagi has been an essential component of England’s squad, known for his formidable physicality that bolstered the team’s attacking capabilities, particularly notable in England’s victory over New Zealand in 2012.
Despite his significant contributions, Tuilagi’s career has been marred by injuries, leading him to miss numerous matches since his debut. He celebrated Six Nations victories with England in 2016 and 2020 and played in the 2019 World Cup final. However, a hamstring injury sidelined him for over a year, including the 2015 World Cup hosted by England.
Tuilagi’s recent participation in the World Cup in France and limited Six Nations involvement foreshadowed the close of his time with England.
At the club level, Tuilagi achieved Premiership victories with Leicester Tigers in 2010 and 2013 before his move to Sale Sharks in 2020, where he played a pivotal role in leading the team to a Premiership final last season.
