6. Manu Tuilagi
Age: 28
Rugby career: The youngest of six brothers in the Samoan rugby dynasty to have played for Leicester Tigers, Manu qualified for England on three years’ residency and wasted no time in making an indelible impression. The centre has since won 43 caps for England between 2011 and 2019, including playing in the 2011 Rugby World Cup and starting in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final. He played for the Lions on their 2013 tour to Australia, winning one cap.
Away from the pitch: His settled home life has been credited for keeping his career on track. Manu became a father two years ago and settling down with fiancee Chantelle Garrity has helped him focus on the latter stages of his international career.
Chantelle is a Manchester University graduate who went on to work in her family’s Leicestershire-based construction company as a business development manager.
She now spends the majority of her time at home looking after their daughter, Leilani Lea’auta, whose name translates to ‘heavenly flower’.
Playing style: An absolute wrecking ball of a centre who is unstoppable once he gets moving.
Did you know? He was named Manusamoa, after the name of the Samoan national team
7. Julie Tuilagi
Born Olotuli, she now goes by the name of Julie.
The only sibling not to play rugby, in Polynesian culture she is fa’afafine, or third gender.
The term translates as ‘in the manner of woman’, which is why she dedicated her life to helping her parents around the house, behaving like a dutiful daughter, while her brothers chased their rugby dreams.
Tuilagi and his brothers have always been supportive of Julie with Manu buying her make-up and designer handbags.
