Browse Sections

• Stockport County FC
• Sale Sharks
• Local football
• Local cricket

Two tries in two wins for newcomer Tuilagi

Jenny Dixon
27/ 8/2008

DAYS after signing for Sharks Andy Tuilagi scored two tries in two games for his new club.

The Samoan international played in both of Friday’s double-header friendlies, crossing the whitewash in each game, including a try against his former club Leeds.

Tuilagi started at outside centre in the Jets’ match against Sedgley Tigers, scoring Sale’s sixth try of seven in a comfortable 44-24 win.

In the second game of the night at Edgeley Park, 22-year-old Tuilagi replaced new signing Mathew Tait on 57 minutes and two minutes later crossed under the posts, to put Sharks 29-10 ahead.

Sharks won the game 38-29; the hosts’ defensive capabilities diminished towards the end as the team was chopped and changed by coaches eager to find the best combinations ahead of their first league match of the season against Newcastle, on September 7.

Sharks’ director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre said of his latest signing Tuilagi: "He is a big guy. He is very powerful and he is very direct. You need direct players, I think sometimes we were not direct enough [last season].

"He needs to improve his fitness because he only arrived this week, but we were short of centres because Lee Thomas is banned until September 4 and Rudi Keil and Chris Bell are still not fit.

"Tuilagi has a lot to offer, he is still a young player. He is a young prospect."

Tuilagi, who can play at centre or wing, still had a year left on his Leeds’ contract but left after the club were relegated at the end of last season.

He scored five tries in 20 matches while on loan to Leeds during their successful promotion back into the Premiership in 2007, but he crossed the tryline just once in 12 matches last season.

Tuilagi, one of four brothers to have played international rugby for Samoa, told the Express: "It is an honour for me to come and be part of Sale.

"When you are down at the bottom, like we were at Leeds, there is no motivation, you just go training. But there is a big difference when you come up here.

"Sale is a big club, with a lot of high-flyers, and I will try my best to be in the team."