Tuilagi moves to play down talk of switch to Super 15

MANU Tuilagi has played down links with a move to Super 15, insisting he never wants to give up playing for England.

The Leicester centre’s brother, Freddie, is out at the World Cup and told a local newspaper over the weekend that he was exploring options in New Zealand. “We’re already talking to a few people. In the future he (Manu) wants to explore different options and experience Super 15,” he was quoted as saying.

If Tuilagi was to leave England he would be ineligible for international selection under new Rugby Football Union regulations.

And the 20-year-old, who has scored four tries in his first five Tests, insisted he could not consider giving up on England.

“I am loving playing rugby for England,” said Tuilagi. “This is my first World Cup and hopefully it won’t be my last.”

Meanwhile, England full-back Ben Foden has backed Chris Ashton to break Jonah Lomu’s Rugby World Cup try-scoring record. Last weekend’s hat-trick against Romania took the winger’s World Cup tally to five, just three short of the record held jointly by All Black legend Lomu (1999) and South Africa wing Bryan Habana (2007).

“He’s definitely hungry enough and greedy enough,” said Foden, Ashton’s Northampton club-mate and England room-mate.

“He loves all that stuff and it will just spur him on even more.

“Ashy is one of those guys who loves scoring tries. He didn’t score any for four or five Tests and then scores five in two. He’ll love all that.

“Hopefully we’ll see a few Ash Splashes at the weekend.”