Son of Tonga legend is being tipped as England's 'next Manu Tuilagi'

Thursday, 24 April 2025 at 19:19

byRugby Rucker

shape up…

The Telegraph are all-in on Rekeiti Ma’asi-White as Manu Tuilagi’s long-term heir in both the England and Sale Sharks midfield — and they’re not the only ones.

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Tuilagi himself is buzzing about the 22-year-old powerhouse.

“He’s so exciting, man,” Tuilagi said. “Do you see him train? He’s good. Real good. The thing for Riki is that he has got a big future but he is good now. He is ready to go. He has got the size and skills. I can’t wait to see him get that opportunity.”

Delayed, but not denied

Ma’asi-White’s rise hasn’t been straightforward. A hamstring issue stalled his early-season progress, and the signing of Fijian star Waisea Nayacalevu pushed him down the pecking order. That led to a loan spell in the Championship with Caldy — but now he’s stormed back, breaking into Sale’s senior setup just as the business end of the season heats up.

Tuilagi’s glowing words suddenly make a lot more sense.

Rugby in the blood

It’s no surprise Riki’s making waves — rugby runs deep in the Ma’asi-White family. His father, Viliami Maʻasi, won 36 caps for Tonga and featured at the 2003 Rugby World Cup. His brothers have also played professionally, though one — former England U18 captain Samson — was forced to retire after undergoing a life-saving kidney transplant from their dad.

Borthwick watching?

With Ollie Lawrence sidelined through injury, Ma’asi-White could be in line for a shock England call-up this summer. Steve Borthwick is expected to name a squad with plenty of fresh faces due to several big-name absences — and Ma’asi-White’s name is firmly in the frame.

How could the squad look?

With caps up for grabs, expect a wave of new talent to break through. Here's how England’s summer squad could

ENGLAND SUMMER SQUAD 2025

Props:

Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks)
Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester)

Hookers:

Theo Dan (Saracens)
Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons)
Curtis Langdon (Northampton Saints)

Second-Row:

Arthur Clark (Gloucester)
Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)

Back-Row:

Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
Ted Hill (Bath Rugby)
Alfie Barbeary (Bath)
Ben Curry (England)

Halfbacks:

Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks)
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears)
Ben Spencer (Bath)
George Ford (Sale Sharks)
Alex Lozowski (Saracens) – Also as a centre

Centres:

Oscar Beard (Harlequins)
Rekeiti Ma’asi-White (Sale Share)
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
Max Ojomoh (Bath)

Back-Three:

Henry Arundell (Bath Rugby)
Cadan Murley (Harlequins)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
Gabriel Ibitoye (Bristol Bears)

Three England Stars Who Could Lose Their Central Contracts

Last October, England handed out 17 enhanced Elite Player Squad (EPS) contracts as part of the shiny new Professional Game Partnership deal.

It gave head coach Steve Borthwick more control than ever, including the final word on all sports science and medical matters.

Among the big winners were George Ford, Marcus Smith and Fin Smith – all three fly-halves receiving upgraded deals ahead of the autumn internationals.

But fast forward six months, and not all those golden ticket holders are sitting pretty. We take a look at three players who could be on the chopping block ahead of the next round of central contract decisions.

#1. Henry Slade – The Class Act Losing His Place

Slade’s silky style has long made him a favourite with fans – but his Six Nations was anything but smooth. Once pencilled in as a midfield maestro, he now finds himself completely out of Borthwick’s 23.

His combination with Ollie Lawrence never quite clicked, and although there were flickers of promise, it wasn't enough to convince the coaches. Slade was ultimately cast aside in favour of Fraser Dingwall, and now his England future – and his central contract – looks seriously uncertain.

Possible replacement: Fraser Dingwall

The mid-Six Nations switch that saw him take Slade's place has given Dingwall a solid opportunity to make a real push for a long-term role in the squad. A gritty and intelligent player, he’s an ideal fit in the centre and could continue his rise with consistent performances.

#2. Theo Dan – The Rise and Fall

Dan looked to be the hooker-in-waiting not long ago, but with Luke Cowan-Dickie back in the mix and firing, the Saracen has tumbled down the pecking order.

He managed just a single appearance in the 2025 Six Nations, coming off the bench late against Ireland when the game was already slipping away.

He gave it his all and made his presence felt in the collisions, but the timing didn’t allow for a real impact.

With Jamie George still first choice and LCD surging back, Dan might be sweating over that central contract renewal.

Possible replacement: Luke Cowan-Dickie

With the England hooker pool still fairly tight, LCD’s return to form after a spell on the sidelines could see him leapfrog others back into the starting role. His set-piece mastery and work rate up front could be enough to secure him a spot, especially with competition thinning out.

#3. George Ford – Still Magic, But Marginalised

Here’s the big one. Ford, the experienced general with nearly a century of caps, has found himself on the fringes thanks to Fin Smith’s electric rise.

He only got a sliver of game time during the Championship – a brief stint against Wales – but what a cameo it was.

Two assists and a masterclass in game management. Classic Ford: overlooked, underrated, but undeniably brilliant.

With both Smiths tipped for Lions duty this summer, Ford will have a golden window to remind everyone – including Borthwick – why he still deserves that England contract.

Possible replacement: Jack van Poortvliet (this would even up the squad with two scrum-halves and two fly-halves)

A real option for the future at scrum-half, van Poortvliet could offer Borthwick the ideal balance in the half-back department. With the potential for two fly-halves and two scrum-halves in the squad, van Poortvliet's dynamism and composure could provide the extra spark needed to even things out.

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