Manu Tuilagi signs new contract with Sale
By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent
Manu Tuilagi will be available for England selection after the World Cup after it was announced he has signed a new one-year contract with Sale.
Tuilagi has ended speculation that he could join the exodus of Red Rose stars heading for the Top 14 in France by extending his stay at the Sharks, the club he joined from Leicester in 2020.
The news that he will remain in the Gallagher Premiership has been confirmed on the same day that Courtney Lawes committed his future to Northampton, giving England head coach Steve Borthwick a double boost.
๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฒ๐ญ ๐ ๐๐ก๐จ ๐ข๐ก ๐ง๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐
We are delighted to ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ the 'SquadFather' is locked in for another season ๐ฅ.
Here's to another season of R-kid staying up north ๐.
Hear from Manu and the boss below๐. #FabricOfTheNorthโ Sale Sharks ๐ฆ (@SaleSharksRugby) April 29, 2023
A Rugby Football Union rule means that players based overseas are unavailable for international selection.
Tuilagiโs time in Manchester has been marred by significant hamstring and Achilles injuries, but the powerful centre of Samoan origin remains an influential figure at Sale.
โMy family and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to stay up north for another year,โ Tuilagi said.
โIt was an easy decision. I love coming to work every day and I couldnโt ask for a better environment on and off the pitch.
โWeโre so tight as a group, which is why I think weโve had such a good run this season. There couldnโt be a better time to be a Shark.โ
Tuilagi won his 51st cap during the recent Six Nations and has also made a Test appearance for the Lions in 2013.
โThis deal says so much about this club and what weโre building, but it says more about Manu the man,โ Sale boss Alex Sanderson said.
โIt says so much about what really matters to him and thatโs rare in professional sports people.
โManu is really happy here but Iโm sure it wasnโt an easy decision to stay. For us and for Manu and his family, I think itโs the right decision.
โManu has been part of winning squads with Leicester and England and this environment is the one he seems to be enjoying and thriving in the most.โ
