Bayonne have introduced the signing of England centre Manu Tuilagi from Sale on a two-year contract.
The 32-year-old will be a part of the French membership on the finish of the season in a transfer prone to deliver an finish to his Check profession.
Rugby Soccer Union laws dictate any participant departing the Gallagher Premiership turns into ineligible for worldwide choice.
A brief assertion on Bayonne’s web site learn: “England centre Manu Tuilagi has signed for the subsequent two seasons. Welcome Manu!”
Tuilagi gained his sixtieth – and certain ultimate – England cap in Saturday’s 33-31 Guinness Six Nations defeat by France in Lyon.
Earlier on Tuesday, the previous Leicester participant outlined ambitions of serving to Sale elevate the Premiership title as he confirmed his choice to depart Alex Sanderson’s aspect.
“I’ve completely cherished my time at Sale,” he instructed the membership web site. “It was a extremely robust dialog with Al, and a troublesome choice for everybody as a result of my household and I’ve been actually comfortable right here.
“I by no means thought I’d depart Leicester and it was an enormous transfer, however since arriving right here I’ve grown so much as an individual. I’ve developed as a participant, however extra in order an individual.
“The atmosphere at Sale is superb. It’s what makes me wish to get off the bed and put the work in, and I genuinely love coming in daily.
“If I’ve helped the younger gamers then that’s nice, however they’ve helped me a lot too and I’m going to overlook all of them.
“The mindset from the beginning of the season was to win the Premiership and that’s what we’re all targeted on now. Understanding it’s my final season right here will give me an additional push to ensure I depart on a excessive.”
Tuilagi has been an computerized decide within the midfield for 4 successive England coaches as a result of energy he supplies on each side of the ball.
Nonetheless, his profession has been closely interrupted by quite a few severe accidents, together with groin, chest, hamstring, knee and a damaged hand.
Sale presently sit seventh within the Premiership desk.
Sharks director of rugby Sanderson stated: “We talked about what was finest for the membership and what was finest for Manu and his household, and we needed to make a troublesome choice. However it’s nonetheless a wrench and actually robust for me to simply accept that he’s going.
“He is likely one of the world’s finest gamers and one of many world’s finest blokes. There are only a few individuals who can do what he can on the sector. As a participant he’s each bit nearly as good as I believed he was earlier than I got here right here, however as an individual he continues to shock and encourage me to be higher.
“We’ll miss him massively on the sector, however the void he leaves off it will likely be more durable to fill.
“His smile is identical whether or not he’s working on to the sector able to smash somebody, or sitting reverse you having a glass of wine, and I’m actually going to overlook that.”
