Talks under way to persuade Tuilagi to switch codes, say Toronto
Toronto Wolfpack head coach Brian Mcdermott has confirmed the club’s interest in making a sensational swoop for Leicester and England centre Manu Tuilagi.
The Daily Telegraph revealed last week that the newly promoted Canadian outfit have targeted the 28-year-old after completing the signing of dual-code international Sonny Bill Williams.
Super League rules allow clubs with sufficient funds to bring in players who have not played professional rugby league before without it impacting on the salary cap.
Luther Burrell crossed codes to join Warrington from Northampton earlier this year and Hull FC signed Fijian winger Ratu Naulago.
Toronto’s ambitious owner, David Argyle, is keen to follow the acquisition of All Blacks legend Williams with another high-profile signing. Williams was unveiled at a press conference at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium yesterday and Mcdermott
told The Telegraph: “I’d be interested in Manu Tuilagi and I know David [Argyle] is talking to his people. He hasn’t spoken to Manu but with his representatives, and it’s where it was with Sonny to start with – it’s not a no.
“I would be interested in a very good rugby player, for sure. But the same rules apply and we would have to work out where he would fit in to us as a club and as a team.”
Samoa-born Tuilagi agreed a new deal at Welford Road in March which ties him to the Premiership club until June 2021.
Among his options was a switch to Super League with Warrington, but Steve Price’s side instead signed Burrell. It is understood that Tuilagi is interested in the prospect of a code switch and the big-money offer that Toronto are prepared to make.
Mcdermott flew out to Japan to watch Williams play for the All Blacks in their World Cup semifinal defeat to England before holding talks which sealed the 34-year-old’s signature on a lucrative two-year deal.
Tuilagi featured for England in that match and, asked further about signing him, Mcdermott said: “We would have to go through a very diligent process, like I did with Sonny. It’s not at that stage yet, but David has got some dialogue going on with the club and from the coach who’s in charge of the team.”