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TOP 14

Bayonne statement: Confirmed signing of Manu Tuilagi

By Liam Heagney

243 days ago

Manu Tuilagi in warm-up action with England last Saturday night (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Bayonne have confirmed they have signed England midfielder Manu Tuilagi, bringing an end to the 32-year-old’s Test career. The centre came off the bench in Lyon last Saturday night to feature for his country in their Guinness Six Nations match versus France.

However, that will now be his last appearance in the white Test shirt as Steve Borthwick is unable to select players who play their club rugby outside England.

As exclusively reported last Saturday by RugbyPass, Tuilagi was expected in Bayonne on Monday and that visit has now concluded with the agreement of a contract through to the end of the 2025/2026 season in France.

Sale Sharks confirmed at around 6pm on Tuesday that Tuilagi would be leaving the Gallagher Premiership club at the end of the current 2023/24 season and Bayonne have since confirmed two hours later that they are indeed the club the player has signed for.

In a short social media accompanied by a video, Bayonne said: “The recruits for 2024/2025 – Episode 7; England centre Manu Tuilagi has signed with Ciel & Blanc for the next two seasons. Welcome Manu!”

? ??? ??????? ????-???? : ??????? 7
Le centre de l'équipe d'Angleterre Manu Tuilagi s’engage chez les Ciel & Blanc pour les deux prochaines saisons.
Bienvenue Manu !
???? ?????? ??? pic.twitter.com/sZAz1KrR4s
— Aviron Bayonnais (@avironrugbypro) March 19, 2024

In the earlier Sale statement, Tuilagi spoke of the wrench it will be to leave Manchester when his contract expires at the end of this season.

“I have absolutely loved my time at Sale. It was a really tough conversation with Al (Sanderson), and a tough decision for everyone because my family and I have been really happy here.

“I never thought I’d leave Leicester and it was a big move, but since arriving here I have grown a lot as a person. I have developed as a player but more so as a person.

“The environment at Sale is amazing. It’s what makes me want to get out of bed and put the work in, and I genuinely love coming in every day. If I have helped the young players then that is great, but they have helped me so much too and I’m going to miss them all.

“The mindset from the start of the season was to win the Premiership and that is what we are all focused on now. Knowing it’s my last season here will give me an extra push to make sure I leave on a high.”

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DrinkAwayTheConcussion 14 minutes ago

Scott Robertson labels newest All Black 'the future'

Paddy T is playing the best footy of his career off the bench, and he’s a leader.

Straight swap: Paddy in for Scott, Scott to the bench.

But I’m loving Tuipolotu as an impact sub.

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JW 16 minutes ago

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Whats that team then? Are Clarke or Tele'a likely to come back? Proctor didn't return to the squad did he?

I'd like see the young fullbacks play fullback, and so Jordan cover on the wing instead. Even seeing Reiks on the other wing would be cool, Reece can go back on the bench if theres even room for him there.

So preferably it would be ALB and second five where he came of the bench in the weekend and was great. He's a bit slow on the play for outside center but looks like he might need to play there if we need wingers.

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No team lists here, that's kid games...

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Jmann 30 minutes ago

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frandinand 53 minutes ago

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Who's obsessed. Your continual obsession with kiwi coaches is a sign of paranoia.

And the kiwi coach of the Wallabies has just coached them to a demolition of Wales a team that beat them 40 to 6 last year.

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JW 54 minutes ago

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Didn't Earl get skinned again?

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This surely has to be the best playing English side to follow in a long long time (well fans might need some more obvious proof come 6N time), so what are you waiting for?

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DH 1 hour ago

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frandinand 1 hour ago

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JW 1 hour ago

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OJohn 1 hour ago

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You really need to get over your obsession with my comments Scotty

7 Go to comments

frandinand 1 hour ago

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For someone who proclaims he is invariably right he is proving he is invariably wrong.

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RF 1 hour ago

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