Sale Sharks’ Manu Tuilagi is poised to bid farewell to English rugby at the close of the season, as reported by The Telegraph, signalling an imminent departure overseas and drawing the curtains on his illustrious England career.
The 32-year-old centre seems set to conclude his four-year tenure with Sale, as the club grapples with constraints in the salary cap, making it challenging to retain Tuilagi for another season.
Though not officially confirmed, sources suggest that Sale would need a substantial shift in their financial landscape to accommodate Tuilagi, a scenario deemed improbable. Tuilagi, who last featured for England in the Rugby World Cup semi-final against South Africa, has been absent from Steve Borthwick’s side since then.
His absence persisted during the opening Six Nations fixtures against Italy and Wales due to a groin injury, and despite his return to the squad, he was overlooked for selection against Scotland and Ireland, with Ollie Lawrence getting the nod instead.
Tuilagi’s international journey, marked by 20 tries across 59 caps for England, has been marred by injury setbacks since his debut in a 2011 Rugby World Cup warm-up clash against Wales at Twickenham.
Looking ahead, Sale has already initiated talks for a replacement for next season, as discussions are underway to fill Tuilagi’s void within the squad.
“Still a chance” – How England can win the 2024 Six Nations next weekend
In a nail-biting turn of events, the race for the Six Nations title remains wide open, with Ireland, England, and Scotland all still in contention.
Despite Ireland holding the advantage, thanks to their bonus points, the competition is far from decided, leaving room for various outcomes among the trio.
Next Saturday, all eyes will be on Dublin as Ireland hosts Scotland at 4:45 pm, while England faces off against France in a high-stakes clash kicking off at 8:00 pm.
For a comprehensive preview of the upcoming matches and insights into the pivotal England vs. Ireland showdown, Stephen Ferris provides an expert analysis.
Stay tuned for the permutations of Super Saturday below…
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How Ireland Might Secure the Championship Despite a Loss
Even if Ireland falls to Scotland, there’s still a path to the Championship. If they manage to secure a losing bonus point along with a try bonus point, they’ll reach 18 points, making it impossible for any other team to surpass them.
Alternatively, if Ireland loses to Scotland but England fails to secure a win against France, Ireland would be on at least 16 points, with England only able to reach 14 points with a draw.
Even with just one bonus point from their match against Scotland and England winning in France without a bonus point, Ireland would still edge ahead with 17 points, leaving England on 16. This scenario would mark a historic first for a team not winning the most games in the Six Nations yet clinching the championship.
