Manu Tuilagi credits new French set-up with ending injury struggles and says he may stay

Manu Tuilagi said he has found the key to ending long-standing injury problems after moving to France to join Top 14 club Bayonne and suggested he may remain in the country beyond his playing days.

In his first major interview since the move, Tuilagi told Daily Mail Sport that his arrival in Nouvelle-Aquitaine has been beneficial both on and off the field. The 34-year-old said he now spends weekends helping out at youth sessions in the coastal village of Ondres, sometimes taking his son to training and assisting volunteer coaches.

"My boy is playing for a team in the village," Tuilagi told the newspaper. "I sometimes take him down for his rugby session and I’ll end up helping the coaches. The matches are at 10am — it’s basically my warm-up for my game. It’s great for me to see my kids playing and I want to help the coaches because they give up so much of their time volunteering. Those people are the lifeblood of the game."

Tuilagi, who won 60 caps for England, left a 15-year spell in English rugby to sign for Bayonne. He said the move was not about winding down; rather, he framed it as a fresh chapter that has helped him address the injury interruptions that have affected his career.

He described taking on a part-time role with children’s coaching while continuing to compete at the top level in France. Tuilagi did not provide detailed medical or training specifics in the interview, but said he had finally discovered a way to stop recurring injuries from dominating his career and credited his new environment with contributing to that turnaround.

Bayonne competes in the Top 14, France’s top domestic league, which has attracted a growing number of international players in recent seasons. Tuilagi’s involvement with grassroots sessions in Ondres highlights a trend of established professionals engaging with local clubs while playing abroad.

The former England centre’s comments come amid wider discussion about player welfare, recovery practices and the role of club environments in managing injury risk. Tuilagi’s move and his public remarks underline how a change of club, country and daily routine can affect a player’s fitness and outlook.

Tuilagi’s combination of first-team rugby and community coaching in southwest France marks a notable shift after a long career in England. He continues to train and compete with Bayonne while helping to mentor younger players in the region, and he indicated he is open to making France a longer-term base if the arrangement continues to suit his playing and family life.