Manu Tuilagi could MISS Sale's Champions Cup visit to Toulouse

Manu Tuilagi could miss Sale’s Champions Cup visit to Toulouse after suffering a horrific head injury against Ulster – with the England centre biting through his own LIP during huge collision that forced him off

  • Manu Tuilagi will undergo tests after suffering a huge head collision on Sunday
  • The Sale and England centre came off worse in a clash with Ulster’s defence
  • Sale produced a brilliant Champions Cup performance to win 39-0 versus Ulster
  • Tuilagi bit through his lip as he fell victim to a worrying head injury in the match
  • The 31-year-old star could now miss Sale’s visit to Toulouse on Sunday 

Manu Tuilagi suffered a worrying head injury as Sale romped to a bonus-point win in their Champions Cup opener.

The England centre was hurt in a huge collision which forced him off in the 32nd minute.

Tuilagi carried the ball at pace from midfield but came off considerably worse against the Ulster defence.

Sale’s director of rugby Alex Sanderson fears the 31-year-old could now miss Sunday’s crunch trip to French giants Toulouse.

Manu Tuilagi collides with the Ulster defence during Sale Sharks’ Champions Cup victory

Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson fears Tuilagi could now be sidelined through injury

He said: ‘I’ve got to check to see if Manu was knocked out completely, but he’s got a nasty gash on his lip which requires stitches.

‘I think his teeth came through his lip, so if it’s just cosmetic then he will be able roll out again.

Tuilagi will undergo tests on his head injury

‘If it’s something a bit more serious, we will look after his head and follow the protocols and whether he passes his tests.

‘It was deemed a HIA because of the magnitude the collision but I saw him at half-time and he was apologising to me for breaking his face. I mean, what a man, but it was horrific to look at.’

England flanker Tom Curry finished off a classy move to open the scoring and Dan du Preez added a second before the break.

Brother Rob du Preez — who also kicked nine points — Tom Curtis, Byron McGuigan and Arron Reed also went over in the second half.

It was the perfect result for Sale heading into their Christmas party on Sunday evening and encouraged Sanderson that his men can go further than last season’s journey to the quarter-finals.

Sale will be hoping to have Tuilagi (middle) fit again for their trip to Toulouse on Sunday

He added: ‘The Champions Cup is a tough competition and this puts down a bit of marker for us. I’m sure it will put the hackles up of some of Toulouse’s players but it will be really tough going there.’

Ulster boss Dan McFarland said: ‘Physically, we struggled against Sale all over the park. They were excellent.’




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