Manu’s England career saved as he signs for Sale
SALE SHARKS will this week announce that Manu Tuilagi is signing on at the AJ Bell Stadium for another two years.
The England and Lions centre, 29, has been out of action after damaging an Achilles tendon in a Premiership clash against Northampton Saints last September. Tuilagi is on course to play again before the end of the season, with next month being pencilled in for his comeback after stepping up his rehab. The former Leicester Tigers ace has been hiking and learning salsa as he prepares to relaunch his career again, following another long spell on the sidelines. Tuilagi, who moved to the AJ Bell Stadium on a one-year deal last summer, had been a target for Racing 92, Toulon and a couple of Japanese Top League outfits.
But signing a new contract with the Sharks will increase his chances of adding to his 43 Test caps which would not have been possible with a move abroad.
Meanwhile, the Sharks are poised to land the veteran former Springbok tighthead Jannie Du Plessis, below, from the Golden Lions.
The elder brother of Bismarck
Du Plessis is a qualified doctor, and will celebrate his 39th birthday in November. He extended his career by joining the Lions last year.
Du Plessis, a World Cup winner in 2007 who spent four seasons with French side Montpellier, has been speaking to DoR Alex Sanderson in the last few weeks about a move to Sale.