Manu Tuilagi's eligibility for Samoa has opened the door to a potential showdown with Steve Borthwick's England at the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The 34-year-old, who spent over a decade at the helm of the English midfield, could now qualify for his native Pacific Island nation under new eligibility rules introduced four years ago.
While Tuilagi has consistently downplayed the possibility of switching allegiances, he refused to rule it out in recent comments, leaving room for speculation about a possible showdown with Borthwick's side. In 2025, Samoa emerged victorious from a World Cup qualifying tournament in Dubai, sparking widespread interest in Tuilagi's potential involvement.
However, in light of this new development, England fans may have reason to be concerned that their arch-nemesis could now face them in Australia come the 2027 World Cup. The prospect has been further boosted by news that Joe Marchant is set to rejoin Sale from Stade Français next season, marking a major coup for Borthwick's team.
Marchant, who boasts an impressive 26 caps for England and has signed a long-term deal through 2026-27, will now be available again for international duty. The news marks a significant boost for the Sale-based coach, who has overseen an impressive 11-game winning streak.
Meanwhile, Tom Roebuck, Sale wing, revealed he suffered a severe injury during England's victory over New Zealand on November 15. Fortunately, Roebuck will not require surgery and is now looking to recover from an eight-10 week layoff.
While Tuilagi has consistently downplayed the possibility of switching allegiances, he refused to rule it out in recent comments, leaving room for speculation about a possible showdown with Borthwick's side. In 2025, Samoa emerged victorious from a World Cup qualifying tournament in Dubai, sparking widespread interest in Tuilagi's potential involvement.
However, in light of this new development, England fans may have reason to be concerned that their arch-nemesis could now face them in Australia come the 2027 World Cup. The prospect has been further boosted by news that Joe Marchant is set to rejoin Sale from Stade Français next season, marking a major coup for Borthwick's team.
Marchant, who boasts an impressive 26 caps for England and has signed a long-term deal through 2026-27, will now be available again for international duty. The news marks a significant boost for the Sale-based coach, who has overseen an impressive 11-game winning streak.
Meanwhile, Tom Roebuck, Sale wing, revealed he suffered a severe injury during England's victory over New Zealand on November 15. Fortunately, Roebuck will not require surgery and is now looking to recover from an eight-10 week layoff.
I'm literally torn about this one... Manu Tuilagi switching to Samoa could be a total game-changer for their team, but at the same time, it's kinda like the end of an era for England... I mean, he was such a key player for them all these years and now he might not even get to play in the World Cup 
. On the other hand, if Steve Borthwick's team does make it to the finals, it would be like a dream come true for English rugby fans... BUT, what if Tuilagi's experience is just what Samoa needs to take down England? 
Could we actually see an epic final between these two teams? 
but seriously, if he does end up qualifying, you gotta think what it means for english rugby. they've been working on that midfield thingy and now this could all fall apart 
it would be epic!! but idk if its gonna happen tho Marchant's back with Sale & i dont think Borthwick would risk him with a big game like that coming up 
meanwhile Roebuck's injury is on the mend which sucks cuz we need him for England 
. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it - all those years he was playing for England and now he could potentially switch to Samoa. It's like the ultimate revenge story 
. But on a more serious note, this just goes to show how fluid team dynamics can be in rugby. You never know what's gonna happen next 
.
but I guess the new eligibility rules changed everything! It's not like Samoa hasn't had some of their best players play for England before, you know? Like, that one guy, George Gregan... no wait, that was an Australian 
. Anyway, if Tuilagi does end up playing for Samoa, it could be interesting to see how he'd do against England in the World Cup. But let's not get ahead of ourselves, there's still a long way to go! And btw, have you seen those rugby players' injuries lately? Like, 8-10 weeks on the sidelines? That's ages! 
. Is Steve Borthwick trying to create a power play by luring away top talent from around the world? 
. Meanwhile, Samoa's emergence as a force to be reckoned with is an opportunity for Pacific Island teams to take center stage 
. Will this be a David vs Goliath story at the 2027 World Cup? 
One thing's for sure – it'll be a wild ride 
!
here's a stat though: in 2023, Samoa won 2 of their 3 matches against England... 
here are some fun facts: he's been capped 26 times for England, scored 13 tries, and has a 70% try conversion rate 