Manu Tuilagi, who heads to France, admits he will no longer be wearing an England shirt, but is looking forward to seeing what’s in store for the team.
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The 32-year-old center is set to bid farewell to Sale Sharks and join Top 14 side Bayonne on a two-year deal.
He made his 60th appearance in England’s Six Nations defeat to France in March, ending his 13-year international career since becoming naturalized from Samoa.
RFU regulations state that players who leave the Premiership will be ineligible for international selection.
“It’s a difficult game because I still want to play,” Manu said. [for England] But I learned that you can’t always get what you want. I’m going to miss you, but I’ll be a fan from now on.
“It will be exciting for Ireland to take on France in the final two games of the Six Nations and decide the match. I’m really looking forward to watching the players continue to develop. I think there’s a lot of improvement in the team. I’m very excited as a fan.”
It’s a long shot, but if the powerhouse center is still around in 2027, the then 36-year-old could switch allegiance to his home country of Samoa for the grand tournament.
Born Manu Samoa, he pays homage to Manu Samoa, the Samoa national team whose older brother Freddie represented Samoa at the 1991 World Cup, the year Manu was born.
Players who may switch countries for the 2027 Rugby World Cup:
Manu Tuilagi to Samoa
Nathan Huges to Fiji
Asked if he would be open to swapping countries, he told Rugby Pass: “Yes, 100 per cent.”
He added: “I’m purely focused on the Black Rams, playing the best I can and letting the selectors do their job.”
“All the coaches and staff are currently in Europe, but we don’t know when they will come to Japan. We will wait until that day comes.
“If he chooses me, I’ll make a decision then, but I have two more games left (with Black).”
Billy Vunipola to Tonga/Australia
Australia is set to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup and Vunipola could be a legitimate addition to the squad for the tournament.
Players are eligible to represent their country of origin after a three-year ban, and Sydney-born Vunipola fits this criteria.
Vunipola, who has already won 75 caps for England since making his debut in 2013, has been a key figure in England’s recent World Cup campaign, including the 2019 final and a third-place finish at the 2023 France tournament. ing.