Sale Sharks confirm the departure of Samoan International centre Anitele’a Tuilagi - Rugby
English professional rugby union club, Sale Sharks, have announced that their center Anitele’a Tuilagi is leaving the club. Officials have confirmed the departure of the Samoan international Anitele’a Tuilagi in a statement released on the club’s website
on Monday, June 13. Sale Sharks have released the versatile backs player Tuilagi from his contract after three years.
The Samoan born player joined the England Rugby Union in the start of the 2005/06 season. He started his professional rugby union career in England with the Leicester Tigers in 2005. He was the fourth Tuilagi brother, which has played for the Tigers. Prior
to him, his elder brothers Henry Tuilagi, Freddie Tuilagi and Alesana Tuilagi have been members of the Tigers squad.
The 25-year-old Anitele’a failed to become a regular member of the team and decided to join Leeds Carnegie on loan. At the end of the loan period he was given a full time permanent contract.
At the start of the 2006/07 season, Anitele’a joined the Leeds Carnegie and played an important role in taking Leeds to the Premiership. Then Leeds Carnegie director of rugby, Stuart Lancaster, described him as, “a player with the X-factor”. However, in
the following season Leeds were relegated from the Premiership after a poor performance in the season.
Anitele’a, known as Andy, joined the Edgeley Park based Sale Sharks in 2008. He signed a four year contract with the Sharks and made his debut for the Sharks against the Cardiff Blues at Edgeley Park in 2008. He has so far made 42 appearances for his current
squad.
The statement released on the Sharks’ official website has thanked Andy for his services to the club. The statement read, “Sale Sharks would like to thank Andy for his services and wish him well for the future.”
Sharks finished 10th on the Aviva Premiership table at the end of the 2010/11 season with 32 points and six wins coming from their 22 games in the season. Following their poor performance in the season, Sharks had to make some tough decisions.
So far they have terminated or not extended the contracts of 25 players from the previous season.
In order to strengthen their squad for the next season, Sharks new recruitments include Charlie Amesbury from Newcastle Falcons, Luther Burrell from Leeds Carnegie, James Collins from Worcester Warriors, Mark Easter from Northampton Saints, Hendre Fourie
from Leeds Carnegie, Kearnan Myall from Leeds Carnegie, Joe Ward from London Wasps, Tony Buckley from Munster, Sam Tuitupou from Munster, Andrei Ostrikov from Stade Aurillac, Tasesa Lavea from Clermont Auvergne, Alasdair Dickinson from Gloucester Rugby, Fraser
McKenzie from Edinburgh, Richie Vernon from Glasgow Warriors, Scott Mathie from Leeds Carnegie and Andy Powell from London Wasps.
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