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Manu Tuilagi has refused to rule out playing for Samoa at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, leaving open the possibility of him facing Steve Borthwick’s England in Australia.
The 34-year-old, who spearheaded the Red Rose midfield for more than a decade, would qualify for the Pacific Island nation in 2027 under eligibility rules introduced four years ago.
Borthwick, who has overseen 11 straight wins, has been boosted by news that Joe Marchant will join Sale from Stade Français next season. The 29-year-old former Harlequin has 26 England caps and has signed a long-term deal from 2026-27 and will now be eligible again for international duty.
At the launch of the 2025-26 Champions Cup, Tuilagi was asked about potential involvement in the World Cup after Samoa emerged victorious from the qualifying tournament in Dubai earlier this month.
Tuilagi’s most recent cap came at the end of last year’s Six Nations, shortly before his switch from Sale to Bayonne, a move that in effect ended his England career. He would be available for selection by Samoa, should he choose to play, three years after his final England appearance.
“When Samoa qualified it was all over social media,” Tuilagi said of the speculation.” It’s still a long way away and I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it.”
Asked if he would be interested, Tuilagi said: “It’s different between being interested and being able to compete. It’s a World Cup, not a club competition. If you want to go, you’ve go to make sure you go there to compete, not just for the craic.”
Pressed further, he added: “For me interest is one thing, being realistic in how you perform is a different thing. We’ll see.”
After signing for Sale on Wednesday, Marchant said: “When I spoke to [Sale director of rugby] Alex Sanderson he explained the direction he wants to take the club and the ambition he has. It’s a club that wants to win trophies and I’d love to be a part of that.”
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The Sale wing Tom Roebuck, meanwhile, revealed he broke a toe bone in England’s victory over New Zealand on 15 November but is hoping to be fit for the Six Nations. Borthwick’s team begin their campaign against Wales on 7 February.
“I saw the specialist last Friday and he said no operation, which is good, but we are looking at 8-10 weeks [out],” Roebuck said. “We didn’t realise how bad it was until the day after when I had the scan. I got off the pitch and it was pretty angry but we managed to get through it … I woke up in the morning, got the scan and it was pretty purple. The bone had just snapped.”
