Manu Tuilagi has left the door slightly open to the idea of switching his international allegiance from England to Samoa in time for the Rugby World Cup 2027. Although he has spent most of his life and rugby career in England, the powerhouse centre was born in Samoa. And a change of national team would be allowed once he completes World Rugby’s three-year stand-down period.
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Tuilagi’s last appearance for England came in the final round of the 2024 Six Nations. Since he left Sale Sharks for Bayonne in the French Top 14 afterwards, he is no longer eligible for selection under England’s overseas-based player policy.
Meaning head coach Steve Borthwick cannot currently pick him, even if he wanted to. It is a sharp change for a player who, between 2011 and 2024, collected 60 caps for England. And was long seen as one of the side’s most destructive ball-carriers when healthy.
Injuries have always been the biggest obstacle in Tuilagi’s career. Although he produced some unforgettable performances for both England and his former clubs, Leicester Tigers and Sale. He spent long stretches of time on the sidelines. Now 34, and with the 2027 World Cup still more than two years away, his physical condition remains the biggest unknown.
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Rugby World Cup: Tuilagi Nears Samoa Eligibility as 2027 Draw Looms
However, his move to Bayonne seems to have given him a new lease on life. He has largely stayed injury-free since joining the French club. This season, he has played in seven of the first ten Top 14 matches. And last year he managed to string together 12 consecutive starts—something that once seemed almost impossible for him.
Bayonne also reached the Top 14 semi-finals during that campaign, giving him more high-level rugby than he had enjoyed in years. By the rules, he would be free to represent Samoa on March 16, 2027, exactly three years after his final England match.
The World Cup in Australia begins later that same year. Samoa only just scraped into the tournament after a tense 13-13 draw. Belgium, which allowed them to qualify on points difference. Depending on the World Cup draw, which will be made next Wednesday in Sydney. Samoa and England could even be placed in the same pool.
That would put Tuilagi in the awkward but fascinating position of facing the country he represented for more than a decade. When asked about the possibility of playing for Samoa, Tuilagi was cautious rather than enthusiastic. The idea clearly interests him, but his main concern is whether he could still perform at the highest level. It was all over social media when Samoa qualified, he said.
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Rugby World Cup Final: Tuilagi Balances Samoa Dream With England Loyalty
For me, it’s still a long way away, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it. There’s a difference between being interested and being able to compete. It’s a World Cup, not a club competition. If you go, you want to go there to compete, not just go for the crack.
Tuilagi added that people have asked him about this switch many times. But his answer remains the same: he won’t make any promises until he knows he can genuinely contribute. Interest is one thing, he said, but being realistic about how you’re performing is something else. We’ll see.
If he eventually chose to represent Samoa, he would be following a strong family tradition. Five of his brothers, Anitelea, Alesana, Henry, Vavae, and Freddie played for Samoa. And his nephew Posolo, son of his brother Henry, now represents France.
Playing for Samoa would make him the sixth Tuilagi brother to wear the blue jersey. For now, though, Tuilagi says he considers himself an England supporter. He attended England’s matches against Fiji and New Zealand recently.
And said he was impressed by the quality and depth of the squad, especially in midfield. He praised the competition between centres such as Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Max Ojomoh, and Fraser Dingwall. Noting that England’s depth has long been a concern finally looks much improved.
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