Bedford Blues No.8 Fred Tuilagi has received a two-match ban following an incident in a Championship clash with Doncaster Knights.
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Tuilagi, son of former Leicester Tigers icon Freddie Tuilagi and nephew of England centre Manu, was involved in a disputed clear-out during a ruck close to Doncaster’s try line at Goldington Road.
According to the RFU’s written judgement, Bedford’s blindside flanker had been stopped five metres out by a low tackle, with Doncaster’s No.8 Morgan Strong assisting in the takedown. Strong remained upright over the ball, legally positioned to compete for possession.
As Tuilagi approached the breakdown, he tucked his right arm, leading with his right elbow and upper arm, and made contact with the right side of Strong’s head. Despite his left arm wrapping around Strong’s shirt, the clear-out was deemed reckless, as Strong was static and legally competing at the ruck.
Strong continued without showing signs of injury, and Doncaster reported no concussion concerns. The independent disciplinary panel reviewed the charge, which Tuilagi admitted, and found his actions contrary to World Rugby Law 9.20(b), ruling that his approach lacked adequate mitigation.
The ban can be reduced to one match if Tuilagi completes the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme.
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England players who could swap nations for the 2027 Rugby World Cup
The latest eligibility laws by World Rugby have created a possibility for several renowned England players to represent a different country from their initial capped one, both in the present and upcoming years.
These new regulations state that players can meet the transfer qualification criteria by abstaining from Test rugby for three years and being either born in the country they want to represent or have a parent or grandparent who was born there.
Although some players are more likely to do so than others, here we discuss five players who could potentially switch.
#1. Manu Tuilagi to Samoa
In an extensive interview with The Daily Telegraph, the youngest Tuilagi revealed that while “England is very special to me, of course, but my heart and home is still Samoa.”
“I’d love to pull on the blue jersey one day,”
Manu, who is named after the Samoan national side, is the odd one out of his rugby-playing brothers, as Anitelea, Alesana, Henry and Freddie all opted to play for Manu Samoa rather than any of the European nations they spent time living in throughout their professional careers.
Tuilagi could be available for Samoa in 2027, Rugby World Cup though time isn’t on his side as he would be 35 by then.
