Manu Tuilagi

Sale's Manu Tuilagi has changed tack, taking a knee a week after he remained standing at Harlequins

Following a week where there was much commentary about how Sale and their large contingent of South African players had lined up prior to their loss at Harlequins, the matter even being raised by politicians in South Africa, Tuilagi was one of five Sharks players who took a knee at the AJ Bell Stadium.

The Sale South African contingent, which included recent World Cup winners Faf de Klerk and Lood de Jager, remained standing but they did wear Rugby Against Racism t-shirts their kneeling colleagues also had on.  

Frustration over Radradra and Tuilagi being starved of the ball for their new clubs

Fans were widely anticipating the Bristol Bears and Premiership debut of Fijian powerhouse Radradra, who arrived at the club from Bordeaux, after his sublime showing at the Rugby World Cup in 2019.

England centre Tuilagi completed a high-profile transfer from Leicester Tigers to Sale over the break, bringing one of the world’s most dominant ball carriers to an already power-packed roster.

Tuilagi to sign for Sale Sharks

Dan Schofield reports that now-former Leicester Tigers centre is set to sign for the rest of the current season with the Sharks, after being officially released by the Tigers.

Tuilagi was one of five players stood down last week after failing to reach agreement with the club on their pay, of which all other contracted members of the squad for the period from July 1, 2020, agreed to due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fraught Tuilagi split: Ben Youngs on why Leicester U-turn would be 'a little crazy'

Youngs, who signed an extended contract of his own at the Gallagher Premiership club on Wednesday, admitted it would be “a little crazy” if Tuilagi was to somehow announce a U-turn on his quit decision.

This news will be a bitter blow to Tigers fans who have seen five players opt to leave rather than accept a pay cut. Also joining Tuilagi in exiting Leicester were Kyle Eastmond, Greg Bateman, Noel Reid and Telusa Veainu, who has since signed a three-year deal at Stade Francais.

Leicester confirm Manu Tuilagi departure

Chief executive Andrea Pinchen confirmed that England stars Tuilagi and Kyle Eastmond, and also Telusa Veainu, Greg Bateman and Noel Reid have left the Welford Road club.

Leicester set their players a deadline of Tuesday evening to sign new deals on reduced terms, to reflect the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and also the upcoming salary cap reductions.

And British and Irish Lions star Tuilagi heads the cast-list of players who refused to accept the wage cuts, and have therefore left the east Midlands club.

Fans rally behind Manu Tuilagi to vote him as world's best centre ahead of Welsh star

The Samoan-born 28-year-old claimed the victory with a comfortable winning margin of 62 percent on RugbyPass‘ Facebook and Instagram accounts as part of the Straight 8 Fan Vote campaign to determine the best player on the planet in each position.

Tuilagi and Davies were left as the last two players standing in the third and final round of the knockout bracket after having dispatched some household names in the prior two rounds.

Lawes free to play but Tuilagi cops ban

England centre Tuilagi also appeared before an independent Disciplinary Committee in Dublin having received a red card in the match on 7 March in Twickenham. The red card was issued for an infringement of Law 9.16 (dangerous charge) when, in the 75th minute of the match, he tackled the Wales No.14, George North.

Tuilagi accepted that he had committed an act of foul play but did not accept that it warranted a red card.

Date set for Marler and Tuilagi disciplinary hearings

Both players could face lengthy bans following separate incidents during England’s 33-30 defeat of Wales on Saturday.

As expected, Marler has been cited for the bizarre incident which saw him grab the genitals of Wales’ Alun Wyn Jones during the first half at Twickenham.

Speaking after the game, the Wales captain had called for World Rugby to act on the matter.

“If I react, I get a red card. It’s tough, isn’t it?” he said.

Manu Tuilagi named in English side to face Ireland after making speedy recovery

Tuilagi limped off early in England's shock 24-17 loss to France in Paris due to a low grade strain that also kept him out of the Calcutta Cup win over Scotland the following week.

England are fourth in the standings with five points while Ireland are second with nine and former Wallabies coach Jones has retained 27 players ahead of the match at Twickenham.

"He's good," Australian Jones said when asked about Tuilagi's
fitness.

"(He) trained fully today so he should be in contention for selection.
It's good to have a quality player back."

Tuilagi to stay with England, no place for Dombrandt ahead of Calcutta Cup

In-form number eight Dombrandt did not make the matchday squad for the defeat to France in Paris on Sunday despite Billy Vunipola being ruled out with a broken arm.

Tom Curry was instead shifted to the back of the pack for the game at the Stade de France, with France running out 24-17 winners.

Dombrandt, who plays his club rugby for Harlequins, has not been included for the Calcutta Cup clash at Murrayfield.

Tuilagi is on the list of players, however, even though he suffered a groin injury in Paris, leading to him being substituted in the first half.