Appointed replacement for the Blues to compensate for the loss of Romain Taofifenua, Posolo Tuilagi (19 years old), powerful second line from Perpignan, has everything to attract attention with his extraordinary physique and his potential which has already won over the staff.
It was not planned to see him so quickly with the XV of France but the circumstances worked in his favor. Posolo Tuilagi (19 years old), only 25 games and a little more than a Top 14 season under his belt, will certainly celebrate his first selection with the Blues against Ireland, Friday (9 p.m.) in Marseille at the opening of the Tournament of the VI Nations. First called as reinforcements in the group, he was named replacement to compensate for the loss of Romain Taofifenua, who was ill. And, in these forward positions, the finishers have a 99.9% chance of coming into play, which will probably be the case for the young second row.
The other – significant – absences of Thibaut Flament and the highly anticipated Emmanuel Meafou allow Tuilagi to make his way to the Blues… without going unnoticed. First retained as a training partner for the Blues in January, the young USAP player seduced Fabien Galthié and his staff who finally included him in a first group of 34 players, before releasing him to play the match of his team’s Top 14 against Racing, Saturday (3 p.m., 14th day). He will miss him for the benefit of the A, where his debut was only a matter of time.
An extraordinary physique
Posolo Tuilagi is primarily a visual attraction with an extraordinary physique (1.94m, 150kg). This is accompanied by great mobility and devastating power that pleases the staff. His versatility too since he can help out in the third line. “It’s a truck!” Yoram Moefana said, in a fit of laughter last week. “It’s a rare profile,” adds third row François Cros. “There aren’t a lot of players like him who have his profile and his power. He’s really a great weapon for us. He’s still very young and he will have a bright future in rugby.”
In recent days, some observers even suggested moving him to the front line to offer an alternative to the right pillar position. Fabien Galthié was not closed to this possibility… unlike the person concerned. “This idea is not far-fetched,” the coach confided at a press conference. “But he doesn’t want to. And the first quality of a right pillar is to want to play there and fight there.”
He impressed the Blues in training
Initially a sparring partner, Posolo Tuilagi quickly changed his status to the point of touching his first selection. His performances in training immediately made an impression, even among the most experienced like François Cros (29 years old) – “we saw him again today (last Thursday) in training, he has a lot of power” – or Romain Taofifenua (33 years old), a competitor for the position.
“Posolo, I knew him when he was little, I played with his father (Henry in Perpignan, see below) so it’s strange to have him with me today,” smiled the Lyonnais, Monday. “I’m happy for him, he brings a lot. He’s a very physical player, we were able to see him last week in training. He was able to show all his qualities. It’s a big plus to have him with us, I hope we can use it.”
From a family of legends
The expectations surrounding Posolo Tuilagi date from almost the day he was born, July 28, 2004 in Samoa. The USAP player comes from a family of rugby players with, first of all, his father Henry, imposing third row and legend of Perpignan where he played eight years (2007-2015) and won the Top 14 in 2009 after a stint at Leicester (2003-2007). He also played in the 2007 World Cup with Samoa.
Feretti, Anitele’a and Alesana, Posolo’s uncles, also wore the selection jersey unlike his other uncle Manu, who opted for England. Henry Tuilagi Jr, Posolo’s older brother, is also professional and plays as a three-quarter center in Périgueux. In view of his potential and the expectations he arouses, the latest addition to the family is in line with his elders.
Already world champion with the French U20s
The staff of the XV of France are carefully following the rise in power of the young second row. William Servat, forward coach of the Blues, mentioned his profile last July in full preparation for the World Cup. “There are always players who arrive, why not? But everything in its time. Today, the physical maturity that you can have at your age, in your position, is very important and indeed no door is closed to nothing.”
He gave this opinion in the middle of the U20 World Cup during which Tuilagi made his mark, notably in the quarter-finals against New Zealand (elected man of the match). In South Africa, the Bleuets won their third consecutive world title and Tuilagi played a major part in it.
A passport problem quickly resolved
At the beginning of January, doubt emerged over the possibility of Tuilagi joining the XV of France. Born in Samoa, the player does not yet have a French passport and could not play for the Blues, according to a rule put in place by the former president of the French Rugby Federation, Bernard Laporte. But the FFR had clarified things by explaining that “this policy has never been formalized in the rules of the FFR”. “Therefore, no current provision compromises the selection of Mr. Tuilagi or other players in similar situations,” the body added. Florian Grill, its current president, has decided to submit to the rules of World Rugby: namely a presence of five years on French territory, having a French grandfather or grandmother and not having worn the jersey of another country. All of these rules allow a player to be selectable.
A card to play in a changing position
The profile of Posolo Tuilagi is also sought after in a rapidly changing sector in selection and not spared for this tournament. The staff thus had to call the returning Paul Gabrillagues (16 caps) more than four years after his last appearance to compensate for the absences of Thibaut Flament and Emmanuel Meafou. At 19 years old, he represents the future of an aging sector between Paul Willemse (31 years old) or R. Taofifenua (33 years old) if we look ahead to the 2027 World Cup.