ON THE BLINDSIDE
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SALE Sharks are ready to admit defeat in their attempts to keep the England and Lions centre Manu Tuilagi after begrudgingly admitting that salary cap restrictions are holding back his re-signing. He signed a oneyear deal when he left Leicester Tigers in June 2020 and has since extended his deal by a further two seasons, but this is likely to be his last despite retaining his place in the E n- gland squad.
Blindside sources have indicated that Sharks bosses are keen to keep Tuilagi, who celebrates his 32nd birthday in May, in the north-west but fitting him into the current salary cap is proving difficult.
There is an ever-increasing chasm between the money they can offer and the large amounts French and Japanese clubs have at their disposal to spend on their transfer targets.
We reported last August that Tuilagi was hedging towards a move to Japan despite being offered £2.5m by Racing Metro before he left the Tigers.
■ ARGENTINA boss Michael Cheika, 55, who is also the director of NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu in Japan, has told Leicester that he isn't interested in taking over at Welford Road after the World Cup later this year. TRP reported last week that Scotland boss Gregor Townsend was in the running while suggestions that Jersey Reds boss Harvey Biljon is a target are wide of the mark.
