Leicester Tigers have confirmed England international Manu Tuilagi has signed a new contract at Welford Road.
The centre has spurned interest from Top 14 giants Racing 92, who had offered Tuilagi a deal worth £2.5m over three years, to re-sign with the Tigers following months of uncertainty over his future in England.
Committing to his future to the Premiership club for the next two years, Tuilagi said he was keen to ‘repay the loyalty’ shown to him after battling several injuries in recent years.
“This is a massive club and it means a lot to me and my family,” Tuilagi said.
“I love the club and I want to repay the loyalty they have shown me in my time here. We are all behind Geordan Murphy and his ambitions for the team, and I’m very passionate about playing my part in bringing back the success we all expect at such a massive club.
“This was a big decision for me to make but I am very happy to be able to stay here, I have a lot of friends here, my family is happy here and the club means a lot to me.”
Tuilagi, 27, has returned to the England set-up after staying injury-free, making his first appearance for his country in over two-and-a-half years when England eased past Australia 37-18 last autumn.
And the news of his re-signing at Leicester follows his two tries scored against Italy at the weekend in England’s 57-14 trouncing of the Azzurri in the Six Nations.
Tuilagi has made 49 appearances in club colours over the past five seasons, with the 14 matches he has played in this season being the most of those five seasons.
Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy said: “Manu is a world-class player with a real X-factor about his game and anyone would want him in their team.
“He’s been here a long time, his heart is here and we’re all delighted that he wants to stay with the club.
“He is at his physical peak as a player at 27, he is a leader within the squad and we look forward to seeing many more big performances from him in a Tigers shirt.”
