Tuilagi Could Face England In Samoa Shirt As Marchant Return Is Boon For Borthwick

Manu Tuilagi has refused to norm retired playing for Samoa astatine nan 2027 Rugby World Cup, leaving unfastened nan anticipation of him facing Steve Borthwick’s England successful Australia.

The 34-year-old, who spearheaded nan Red Rose midfield for much than a decade, would suffice for nan Pacific Island federation successful 2027 under eligibility rules introduced 4 years ago.

Borthwick, who has overseen 11 consecutive wins, has been boosted by news that Joe Marchant will subordinate Sale from Stade Français adjacent season. The 29-year-old erstwhile Harlequin has 26 England caps and has signed a semipermanent woody from 2026-27 and will now beryllium eligible again for world duty.

At nan motorboat of nan 2025-26 Investec Champions Cup, Tuilagi was asked astir imaginable engagement successful nan World Cup aft Samoa emerged victorious from nan qualifying tourney successful Dubai earlier this month.

Tuilagi’s astir caller headdress came astatine nan extremity of past year’s Six Nations, soon earlier his move from Sale to Bayonne, a move that successful effect ended his England career. He would beryllium disposable for action by Samoa, should he take to play, 3 years aft his last England appearance.

“When Samoa qualified it was each complete societal media,” Tuilagi said of nan speculation. ”It’s still a agelong measurement distant and I don’t cognize if I’ll beryllium capable to make it.”

Asked if he would beryllium interested, Tuilagi said: “It’s different betwixt being willing and being capable to compete. It’s a World Cup, not a nine competition. If you want to go, you’ve spell to make judge you spell location to compete, not conscionable for nan craic.”

Pressed further, he added: “For maine liking is 1 thing, being realistic successful really you execute is simply a different thing. We’ll see.”

After signing for Sale connected Wednesday, Marchant said: “When I said to [Sale head of rugby] Alex Sanderson he explained nan guidance he wants to return nan nine and nan ambition he has. It’s a nine that wants to triumph trophies and I’d emotion to beryllium a portion of that.”

The Sale helping Tom Roebuck, meanwhile, revealed he collapsed a toed bony successful England’s triumph against New Zealand connected 15 November but is hoping to beryllium fresh for nan Six Nations. Borthwick’s squad statesman their run against Wales connected 7 February.

“I saw nan master past Friday and he said nary operation, which is good, but we are looking astatine 8-10 weeks [out],” Roebuck said. “We didn’t realise really bad it was until nan time aft erstwhile I had nan scan. I sewage disconnected nan transportation and it was beautiful angry but we managed to get done it … I woke up successful nan morning, sewage nan scan and it was beautiful purple. The bony had conscionable snapped.”