Bayonne statement: Confirmed signing of Manu Tuilagi

Bayonne have confirmed they have signed England midfielder Manu Tuilagi, bringing an end to the 32-year-old's Test career. The centre came off the bench in Lyon last Saturday night to feature for his country in their Guinness Six Nations match versus France.

However, that will now be his last appearance in the white Test shirt as Steve Borthwick is unable to select players who play their club rugby outside England.

As exclusively reported last Saturday by RugbyPass, Tuilagi was expected in Bayonne on Monday and that visit has now concluded with the agreement of a contract through to the end of the 2025/2026 season in France.

Sale Sharks confirmed at around 6pm on Tuesday that Tuilagi would be leaving the Gallagher Premiership club at the end of the current 2023/24 season and Bayonne have since confirmed two hours later that they are indeed the club the player has signed for.

In a short social media accompanied by a video, Bayonne said: "The recruits for 2024/2025 – Episode 7; England centre Manu Tuilagi has signed with Ciel & Blanc for the next two seasons. Welcome Manu!”

In the earlier Sale statement, Tuilagi spoke of the wrench it will be to leave Manchester when his contract expires at the end of this season.

“I have absolutely loved my time at Sale. It was a really tough conversation with Al (Sanderson), and a tough decision for everyone because my family and I have been really happy here.

“I never thought I’d leave Leicester and it was a big move, but since arriving here I have grown a lot as a person. I have developed as a player but more so as a person.

“The environment at Sale is amazing. It’s what makes me want to get out of bed and put the work in, and I genuinely love coming in every day. If I have helped the young players then that is great, but they have helped me so much too and I’m going to miss them all.

“The mindset from the start of the season was to win the Premiership and that is what we are all focused on now. Knowing it’s my last season here will give me an extra push to make sure I leave on a high.”