RUGBY: PROFILE: MANU TUILAGI: CIARÁN CRONINtalks to the Samoan who, with his explosive performances, is maintaining, and perhaps even furthering, the Tuilagi reputation at Leicester

‘AN HONOUR,” is how Manu Tuilagi describes it. Samoans, by nature, are softly-spoken folk but Leicester’s 19-year-old centre speaks in a tone even more hushed than the rest of the conversation when talk turns to facing Brian O’Driscoll at the Aviva Stadium this evening. “I’ve been watching him pretty much all my life really,” he expands. “He’s a top player. I love the way he plays. To get a chance to play against him is massive. He’s the best centre in the world. You know, in every big game he stands up and does his stuff.”

And yet, the youngest of the Tuilagi clan, the family from the Samoan village of Fogapoa who have etched their surname indelibly in Leicester Tigers history over the past decade, might have missed the opportunity. In June, the UK’s Home Office turned down a request for Manu – named after the warrior whose name is synonymous with the Samoan national team – to remain in the country after it was discovered, as he attempted to get a work permit on being offered his first professional contract by the Tigers, that he had been living in the country illegally since arriving on a six-month holiday visa back in 2004.

On appeal, and after impressive support from the Leicester rugby community – “they even set up a Facebook page for my campaign,” Manu says with a degree of incredulity – the player was granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK. He must, surely, have been a little concerned at the time? “To be honest, I wasn’t that worried because whatever’s going to happen, is going to happen. There’s nothing I could do about it. If I had to go back home, I’d have had to go back home. Who knows? I might be back in Samoa chilling right now.”

His older, wiser brother, however, Leicester’s gargantuan winger Alesana, admits to have been a little more worried. “Going back home would have been a big thing for him and I’m not sure he realised that fact. At the time he was starting to play really well and if he had had to go home, he would have had to start his career again.”

Now, that career is at full throttle. Once his visa issue was sorted, Richard Cockerill was happy to have the 6ft 1in, 17-and-a-half stone Manu as a squad member but the intention was to expose the centre to action on a gradual basis. The player’s explosive performances when given a chance, however, blew those carefully arranged plans apart.

His highlights reel helps tell the story. Back in November against Harlequins, he lined up Tom Williams well before he got the ball and smashed him into the previous week. There was no blood shed on Williams’s part but, had there been, it would not have been of the joke-shop variety. His try against Saracens last month, meanwhile, showcased his attacking abilities. Receiving the ball standing still on halfway, he accelerated past two opponents on the outside and dropped his shoulder to blast his way past Alex Goode over the line. In all, he has made 20 appearances for the Tigers in a season where five would have represented progress.

He is maintaining, and perhaps even furthering, the Tuilagi reputation at the club. It started with Freddie back in 2000, a rugby league convert whose direct running style quickly made him a local favourite. Next to arrive at Welford Road was Henry in 2003, a number eight now with Perpignan. After that came Alesana in 2004, and Anitelia in 2005, a centre-cum-winger now playing with Sale. Sanele Vavae, like Manu, came up through the Leicester youth ranks but is currently back home in Samoa.

In total, there are seven brothers and the only reason just the six have played for the Tigers is because Olotuli, the third eldest, was raised as a woman, a Samoan tradition known as fa’afafine. Alesana, with whom Manu lives in the environs of Leicester’s training ground, is the brother who keeps the closest eye on him.

“I do look out for him,” says Alesana. “We speak a bit of our language between ourselves at training and I try to make sure he does the right thing out there and doesn’t make many mistakes.

“He’s a guy who’s confident but I think everybody has been surprised by his development. But he came through a good club. He has been working hard with the trainers at Leicester and they have been working hard with him. Now is the time for him to learn the game. He will make mistakes but that’s okay.”

Most of Manu’s naivety comes in his defensive game, something that Leinster will no doubt be aware of.

“I’m working really hard on my defence,” says Manu. “It’s very important. It’s about being in the right place to make the hits. I like the big hits but I can’t go out there thinking ‘there’s a guy, I’ve got to smash him’. It’s all about doing those kinds of things at the right time because if you line up and you miss them . . .” He tails off but you get the feeling from his tone, that somebody has had a strong word in his ear about this before.

His decision to declare for England is backed by his family. “It’s different but I’m proud at the same time,” says Alesana, and Manu’s own explanation for the decision does make sense. “I’ve come through the ranks, I’ve been here all my rugby life. I’ve come through the age groups and my goal is to play for England. It would be an honour to be able to do it.”

There’s that word again. Honour. It has always been difficult to reconcile the often dangerous physicality of Samoan players on the pitch – a category the Tuilagi brothers fall into – with their laid-back, polite and utterly respectful demeanour off it. Manu is no different.

“My family is very religious,” he answers when asked about life away from rugby. “We’re Catholic and me and my brother go to church on a Sunday after a game and thank God for the strength he gave us to play the game. It’s very important to me.”

Anybody he’s running at this evening might be wise to say a little prayer, too.

Manu Tuilagi

Date of Birth:18 May 1991.

Height: 6ft 1in

Weight: 17 stone.

Leicester appearances: 16 Aviva Premiership appearances (7 tries); 3 Heineken Cup appearances (1 try); 1 Anglo-Welsh Cup appearance.

International appearances: 2 caps for England Saxons (1 try).