Diamond in relaxed mood over Tuilagi negotiations

Sale Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond has said that the club will wait until after Christmas to enter into negotiations with new recruit Manu Tuilagi regarding his future at the club.

Tuilagi, the incumbent English centre, signed a one-year deal with Sale after cutting ties with Leicester Tigers following a stalemate between himself and the club in which he refused to take a pay-cut during the hiatus on rugby as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is said that Tuilagi is highly sought-after in the French club scene, an element which is likely to have a significant bearing on the negotiations when they commence. Racing 92 had, apparently, already approached the 29 year old before lockdown.

“No chat, we won’t have any chat until after Christmas time,” Diamond said.