Henry Tuilagi

Henry Tuilagi (born August 12 1976) is a Samoan rugby union footballer. He currently plays for USA Perpignan in the French club competition, the Top 14, and has appeared four times for his national team Samoa. He previously spent a year playing in the Italian super 10 competition for Parma as well as a spell in Rugby League.

In 2007, Tuilagi signed with the France Top 14 side USA Perpignan.

Tuilagi made 24 first team appearances during his first season with the Tigers. He scored a try on his debut match for the Tigers against the London Irish. He soon established himself firmly in the Tigers lineup, but his next season was cut short with a broken leg in the final home game against the London Wasps.

The Tuilagi family has strong connections with Leicester Tigers; Henry's brothers Alesana (Alex), Anitelia (Andy) and Vavae Tuilagi (Currently on loan at Coventry R.F.C. from the Leicester Academy) also play for Leicester, and his other brother Fereti (Freddie) is a former player.

He was recently named in the Pacific Islanders rugby union team to tour Europe during the end of the year.

Tuilagi is also considered by many to be one of the best no.8's in world rugby and can be mentioned in the same breath as some of the major playing nation's no.8 superstars such as Spies, So'oialo and Chabal. He is one of the most powerful and destructive running No.8's in the game, showing remarkable speed and agility for a man of 126 kilos.

External links

* [http://www.tigers.co.uk/5632_303.php Henry Tuilagi] on tigers.co.uk
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,377-1891451,00.html The Tuilagi takeover that left Leicester in profit]
* [http://www.leicestertigers.com/variants/print/229_3208.php?PHPSESSID=b79725eb6c0182c4c13dac8728d45c2e Interview] on leicestertigers.com
* [http://www.teivovo.com/pacific_rugby/samoa/profiles/henry_tuilagi.html Henry Tuilagi] on teivovo.com