England’s MANU mountain
SPEND any time around rugby players and you get used to the fact that they are enormous. Generally, they view the process of cramming their frames into a seat as an obstacle course, seemingly intent on confirming their reputation as ‘gym monkeys’.
But just occasionally, there is a specimen who breaks the mould, who stuns the world with their physicality and what they are capable of, and chooses the World Cup in which to do so. The last player to achieve that feat was Jonah Lomu, in 1995. Over the next six weeks in New Zealand, Manu Tuilagi could do the same.
England’s behemoth almost defies explanation. For a start, he isn’t really English. Born in Samoa, he has five brothers who have all played international rugby for the land of his birth.
Secondly, at just 6’ 1” tall he isn’t that big. Yet weighing in at nearly 17 stone of muscle, seeing Tuilagi in the flesh can take the breath away. English players talk in hushed tones about the centre’s physical prowess. In the pre-tournament training camps, a wrestling ring was erected to introduce an element of healthy competition to the weight-lifting sessions. They were swiftly brought to a close when Tuilagi chose to throw a heavy-set tight-forward clean out of the ring, to gasps of amazement from his team-mates. It has already become somewhat of an apocryphal story, but with a team management that has been accused of valuing brawn above brain, that moment seemingly confirmed his place in Martin Johnson’s side.
Yet how have England found and developed a man who, with just two Tests to his name, already appears to hold the success of their World Cup campaign in his hands?
In large part, they have his brothers to thank. Manusamoa Tuilagi was born in May 1991 to Tuilagi Vavae, a retired politician and former deputy speaker in the Samoan government, and Allitasi, who ran a village shop.
As the youngest of six brothers, Henry, Andy, Freddie, Alex and Vavae looked after Manu as best they could — they beat him up. It ensured the 20-year-old grew up with a strong competitive edge, and that he could look after himself, as Freddie explains.
“The impact of having us as brothers has been massive,” explains Freddie, who is 20 years older than his youngest sibling. “As a group we have always been hugely competitive, but also extremely supportive of each other.
“And Manu is still very humble. Now he lives with (Leicester team-mate) Alex and that helps lift his game. He has done so well. None of us thought he would adapt to top-level rugby so quickly. He has only had one season in the first-team at Leicester and what has impressed me most is his consistency. That has shown he can hold his own among the very best, and he has learnt a huge amount from all of the players around him.
“He has been outstanding over the last year and his attitude has been really, really top. For me that marks him out as more than a bit special.”
Indeed he is, with the first to realise being Leicester Tigers. The family history with the club — each of the brothers has played for the Tigers — ensured he would move to Leicester when he came to England aged 13. After three years of dominating schools rugby he was promoted to the Leicester Academy . There, his talent — and above all his physicality — stood out.
“We had to stop him playing in the Academy when he was 17 because he used to hurt people too much,” laughs Leicester boss Richard Cockerill.
As David Wallace would no doubt painfully attest to, Tuilagi has not lost any of that power-hitting ability that seems to run deep in a Samoan’s blood. Charging out of the line is a personal favourite of Manu’s, and one which could be exploited. Conversely, if he hits you then you will realise...well, perhaps not.
Yet the road from boy-wonder to a nation’s great white hope has not been simple.
Last June, it was discovered that Tuilagi had only entered the UK on a six-month holiday visa. Having overstayed that by six years, deportation proceedings were launched, with his future only secured by representation to the Home Office by Leicester, his local MP, Keith Vaz, and a Facebook group that ran into the thousands.
It was, admits Tuilagi, the most difficult period of his career.
“It was very difficult. I am very fortunate to be here and to have the people at Leicester who supported me. It has been a mad year. I wasn’t even playing for Leicester or the national team, and I just didn’t know what would happen.
“I think I surprised everyone in the last year, but especially myself. But the way I look at it, it’s just rugby and I want to get on with it.”
Indeed, the only blip since Tuilagi’s visa issues were resolved was the three-punch combination that left the Northampton winger and future England team-mate Chris Ashton nursing a headache in a vicious assault during last season’s Aviva Premiership semi-final.
It was, claims Tuilagi and his brothers, the only time he has completely lost his temper. Yet questions will be asked of his temperament. Banned for the Final, which Leicester lost, England could ill-afford a repeat.
“If that situation happened again then the outcome would be very different. You have to learn from your mistakes and I think I have,” reveals Manu.
So there is just one last remaining question hanging over Tuilagi — is he English?
Tuilagi takes the issue head-on.
“I am really proud of where I’m from, and not many Samoan guys get the chance to play for England ,” he explains. “I grew up here, all my rugby career was here and obviously I played for England at Under-16, 18 and 20 level, so if you do that you want to play for the senior team. Playing for England wasn’t even a decision.
“I am a fully English rugby player — just with a Samoan element.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
