Manu Tuilagi's new Leicester Tigers deal key for club, says Ed Slater
Tuesday 8 December 2015 16:02, UK
Leicester captain Ed Slater has revealed Manu Tuilagi rejected lucrative approaches from a number of other Aviva Premiership sides in order to sign a new three-year contract.
Tuilagi's new deal is reportedly worth in excess of £425,000 per season, with the 24-year-old rejecting approaches from Wasps, Saracens and Worcester in the process.
Leicester are third in the Premiership table and top their Champions Cup pool, with assistant coach Aaron Mauger having introduced a more attacking style of play since arriving at Welford Road over the summer.
Tuilagi has missed the last 14 months with a groin injury, but is determined to resume his career and Slater is convinced Mauger's arrival at the club is also a crucial factor in his decision.
"Keeping Manu is a big statement. The club have invested heavily in him and I don't think he's been short changed," said Slater.
"From his point of view the decision was about what's best for him and after the year he's had he just wanted to get back to playing rugby.
"He could also see the buzz around the training ground off the back of Aaron Mauger's arrival. He can see the changes and wants to be a part of it.
"He didn't want to chase the money, otherwise he wouldn't have re-signed. The whole package he saw at Leicester was more important than getting money elsewhere."
Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill admits it was by no means certain they would persuade the 24-year-old to remain at the club with so many enticing deals being offered.
When asked if he was confident Tuilagi would sign a new contract, Cockerill said: "Yes and no.
"When you get to the point where you've made your offer and you say 'have a think about it and let us know', you have a few days when you think that may or may not come back positive.
"All the language from the player was relatively positive. I know Manu pretty well. I've coached him for a long time and know him as a person.
"If those amounts of money are supposedly being offered by other clubs, then there's a decision to be made."
