Manu Tuilagi has paid over £30k in fines – and some of the reasons are absolutely wild
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Manu Tuilagi has never been one to shy away from controversy. From punching Chris Ashton to jumping into Auckland Harbour, the England powerhouse has racked up a staggering £30,000 in fines over his career.
Punching Chris Ashton – a five-week ban
Back in 2011, Tuilagi let his fists do the talking in a fiery Premiership semi-final between Leicester and Northampton. After repeatedly punching Chris Ashton, he was slapped with a five-week ban – setting the tone for a career filled with disciplinary issues.
World Cup chaos – illegal mouthguard and a harbour dive
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was a nightmare for England, and Tuilagi played his part in the off-field drama. First, he was fined £4,800 for wearing a sponsored mouthguard – a bizarre breach of tournament rules. Then, after England crashed out against France, he decided to spice things up by jumping into Auckland Harbour from a ferry. New Zealand Police were not impressed, and the Rugby Football Union hit him with a £3,000 fine.
Mocking the Prime Minister – bunny ears behind David Cameron
Even when off the pitch, Tuilagi couldn't resist causing a stir. During a visit to Downing Street in 2013 with the British and Irish Lions, he pulled a classic schoolboy prank – flashing bunny ears behind then-Prime Minister David Cameron. While it was mostly laughed off, Tuilagi later apologised for the stunt.
Assault charges – banned from the 2015 World Cup
Tuilagi's most serious offence came in May 2015 when he was convicted of assaulting two female police officers and a taxi driver. That incident cost him a £6,205 fine and, more importantly, his place at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. England coach Stuart Lancaster immediately ruled him out of contention until 2016 – a decision that made headlines at the time.
Drunken night out – kicked out of England camp
After finally working his way back into England's plans, Tuilagi was at it again in 2017. Alongside teammate Denny Solomona, he returned to the team hotel drunk and was promptly sent packing by Eddie Jones. That cost him a spot in the 2018 Six Nations squad, further stalling his international career.
Dangerous tackles – red cards and bans
In 2020, Tuilagi saw red in England's Six Nations clash with Wales for a no-arms tackle on George North. A four-week ban followed, though he ended up not missing any games due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
Fast forward to 2023, and Tuilagi was back in trouble. Playing for Sale Sharks against Northampton, he caught Tommy Freeman in the throat with his elbow and was sent off just 13 minutes into the game. Another four-week ban followed – just another chapter in his long disciplinary record.
Will Tuilagi ever stay out of trouble?
With over £30,000 in fines and multiple bans to his name, Manu Tuilagi's career has been as chaotic as it has been entertaining. The question is – will he stay out of trouble, or is there another headline just around the corner?
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"Kilted Kiwi's" – Scotland have more foreign-born players than any other nation
The Six Nations is always a showcase of top-tier talent, but not every player pulls on their nation’s jersey having been born there.
With eligibility rules allowing selections through ancestry, residency, or other pathways, squads feature a fascinating mix of homegrown stars and those who developed their skills elsewhere before qualifying for their adopted countries.
The following breakdown, based on data compiled by Americas Rugby News, examines the composition of various national teams, shedding light on the number of foreign-born players and how they qualify for their respective squads.
This international blend underlines rugby's global nature, with some nations leaning on overseas-born talent more than others. Ahead of round two, we’ve broken down the squads – and Scotland lead the way by a mile when it comes to foreign-born players.
ENGLAND
HOMEGROWN PLAYERS: 39/41 (95.2%)
FOREIGN-BORN PLAYERS: 3/41 (7.3%)
- Bevan Rodd (Scotland) – Parent
- Chandler Cunningham-South (England) – Born in England
- Harry Randall (England) – Born in England
- Marcus Smith (Philippines) – Parent
- Tom Roebuck (Scotland) – Parent
Predictor Game:
Tackle everything with the new ISUZU D-MAX
If you are not sure, simply hit ‘Shuffle’ and you will be given an automated prediction.
Once you are happy with the selection, hit ‘Submit Prediction’ to enter.
You will receive points if either/both of your predictions occur during the live match.
POINTS
5 Points: Total Tries Correct
15 Points: Time of 1st Try Correct
A winner will be selected from those with the most points at the end of the game week
FRANCE
HOMEGROWN PLAYERS: 39/42 (92.8%)
FOREIGN-BORN PLAYERS: 6/42 (14.2%)
- Dany Priso (Cameroon) – Residency (2008)
- Uini Atonio (New Zealand) – Residency (2014)
- Giorgi Beria (Georgia) – Residency (2002)
- Joshua Brennan (Ireland) – Residency (2005)
- Emmanuel Meafou (New Zealand) – Residency (2023)
- Émilien Gailleton (England) – Parent
IRELAND
HOMEGROWN PLAYERS: 30/36 (83.3%)
FOREIGN-BORN PLAYERS: 9/36 (25%)
- Rob Herring (South Africa) – Grandparent
- Finlay Bealham (Australia) – Grandparent
- Cormac Izuchukwu (England) – Parent
- Joe McCarthy (USA) – Parent
- Jamison Ratu Gibson-Park (New Zealand) – Residency (2020)
- Bundee Aki (New Zealand) – Residency (2017)
- Ciarán Frawley (Australia) – Parent
- Mack Hansen (Australia) – Parent
- James Lowe (New Zealand) – Residency (2020)
CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO
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