TUILAGI U-TURN WOULD BE ‘CRAZY’
BUT BEN YOUNGS DOESN’T FEEL LET DOWN BY MANU’S DECISION TO QUIT
BEN Youngs has admitted it would be “a little crazy” if Manu Tuilagi performed a U-turn and decided to stay at Leicester Tigers.
The England centre quit Welford Road last week after refusing to accept a new contract on reduced terms.
Other top names to leave the club were Kyle Eastmond, Greg Bateman, Noel Reid and Telusa Veainu, who has now signed a three-year deal with French club Stade Francais.
England scrum-half Youngs has signed a new deal with Tigers along with George Ford and Ellis Genge.
Youngs, who was won 99 England caps, described his international team-mate Tuilagi as “an unbelievable, exceptional talent and wrecking ball carrier”.
But he is resigned to not having the centre’s special skills available to a Leicester squad under the control of new head coach Steve Borthwick.
Youngs said: “You don’t make those decisions unless you really weigh it up and to suddenly go full circle in a week’s time seems a little crazy.
“I don’t see that happening. We had a deadline and I would be very surprised if that was the case.
“It will be different if we play against Manu. Me and George (Ford) will be expecting some runs down our channels.
“Players move and people do go elsewhere. I have trained against him enough times but I don’t know where he is looking to go.
“If he goes to another Premiership club there is a strong chance we will meet him twice a year.
“Do I feel let down by Manu? Absolutely not. He has given a huge career to Leicester and his family has been a dynasty.
“There comes a time in anyone’s career when you change it up.
“Manu has been an amazing servant to Leicester along with all of his brothers, and he now has an opportunity to go somewhere else.
“I don’t feel any disappointment and the club will look to strengthen in those positions. Manu is a father and he has to do what is best for him and his family.
“From my point of view, I speak to him as a mate and everyone knew the repercussions.
“If you didn’t agree to it there was a good chance you would be stood down and that happened. I’m sure it wouldn’t have been a decision made lightly by those guys.”
Youngs has backed Tuilagi to make next year’s British Lions tour
even if he moves abroad. Tuilagi is reportedly looking at playing opportunities in England, France and Japan.
A move overseas would make the 29-year-old ineligible for England but Youngs believes he would still feature in Warren Gatland’s Lions squad.
“I’m sure he’s got every opportunity of making that tour whether he’s playing in England or not,” said Youngs.
However, the scrum-half does not believe the Rugby Football Union should change its eligibility rules to prolong Tuilagi’s international career with England.
Youngs told Sky Sports News: “I know as an England player that if I sign [a contract abroad], I’m walking away from the possibility of playing for England.
“Every player knows the rule and the repercussions of it. No one will ever make a decision without really considering it.
“For me, I think the rule is a good rule. It’s important you get the best players playing in England. And if you decide to go abroad you know that you leave that behind.”
Youngs said it was a straightforward decision for him to sign a new deal and stay with Tigers.
“You only have to flick on the news for five minutes to realise the damage of the pandemic - and what it has done,” he said.
“I’m in a good financial position, so when the 25 per cent pay cut came, it wasn’t too hard a decision.
“I understood the circumstances and knew I wanted to be a part of the club moving forward.
“It’s work at the end of the day. It’s not going to set me up for life.
“So I just wanted to do what I could to make sure the club survived. “
Meanwhile, Premiership Rugby has announced 10 people have tested positive for coronavirus following the first round of testing.
The positive results consisted of six players and four non-playing staff from a total of 804 tests and those individuals will now isolate and be assessed in line with Public Health Englan guidelines.
Premiership Rugby has set a target of August 15 for resuming the 201920 campaign, which was halted in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
However, the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals will be played at new venues after tournament organisers decided to move the games away from Marseille.
The French city will now stage the 2021 finals, with Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London hosting in 2022.