MEN Sport's rugby transfer round-up on Monday, January 17.
Tuilagi new contract at Sale Sharks
England's star centre Manu Tuilagi is set to sign a new deal to keep him in greater Manchester in the build-up to the 2023, Rugby World Cup, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The 30-year-old has the option in his contact to add an additional year to the deal, which he looks set to take in a boost to both Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson and England head coach Eddie Jones.
The ex-Leicester man has not played for the club following an injury on England duty, but should be back for Sale by the time they play his former employers end of the month.
Many Premiership rugby clubs are struggling to keep hold of their biggest names with a reduced salary cap and with a name such as Tuilagi's, there is always the risk of lucrative deals coming in from France or Japan which would make him ineligible for England.
An official announcement has not yet come, but all signs are reportedly pointing towards the powerful centre committing his future to the English game.
Saracens sign Quins' Hugh Tizard
It was first reported by the Daily Mail a number of weeks ago that Hugh Tizard would be signing for Saracens from Harlequins in what would be a big coup for one of the country's brightest second-row talents.
It has now been confirmed that the England Under-20 star will be joining the North Londoners from the beginning of the 2022/23 Premiership season.
Tizard is 6"5" and 19 stone and brings serious weight to an engine room that already boasts Maro Itoje, Nick Isiekwe, Tim Swinson and Calum Hunter-Hill.
He has already made 27 appearances for Quins since joining the club in 2016 and will be a big blow for the Premiership Champions to lose one of their best academy talents to one of their biggest rivals.
He told the Saracens club website: “I’m massively excited to make the move to Saracens at the end of the season. Although it was an incredibly hard decision, I feel that it is the right decision for my rugby.
"I want to challenge myself and grow as a player and I feel Saracens will be the perfect place to do that.
"I’m looking forward to working with Mark McCall and the rest of the coaches and joining up with the squad next season.”
