England international Manu Tuilagi says his decision to leave Sale Sharks at the end of the season followed a “really tough” discussion with director of rugby Alex Sanderson.
Centre Tuilagi’s move to French Top 14 club Bayonne on a two-year contract is likely to spell the end of an international career which yielded his 60th cap in England’s Six Nations defeat in France on Saturday.
“The mindset from the start of the season was to win the Premiership and that’s what we’re all focused on now,” said Tuilagi, whose side are 12 points behind leaders Northampton in seventh.
“Knowing it’s my last season here will give me an extra push to make sure I leave on a high.
“It was a really tough conversation with Al and a tough decision for everyone because my family and I have been really happy here.”
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Tuilagi said he “never thought” he would leave Leicester, where he started his career and won the title in 2010 and 2013 before initially joining Sale on a short-term deal in 2020.
Tuilagi move ‘a wrench’
“It’s still a wrench and really tough for me to accept that he’s going,” said Sanderson, who led Sale to the Premiership final last season.
“He is one of the world’s best players and one of the world’s best blokes. There are very few people who can do what he can on the field.
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“As a player he’s every bit as good as I thought he was before I came here, but as a person he continues to surprise and inspire me to be better.
“His outlook on life is incredible and he’s so forgiving of things that don’t go his way. That creates a relaxed environment around him and that impacts everyone.
“We’ll miss him massively on the field but the void he leaves off it will be harder to fill. His smile is the same whether he’s running onto the field ready to smash someone or sitting opposite you having a glass of wine, and I’m really going to miss that.”
By moving overseas, the 32-year-old international debutant in 2011 will become ineligible for selection by England.
