Tigers battle to stop deportation of Tuilagi

Leicester Tigers are fighting to stop one of their brightest young prospects being deported.

Manu Tuilagi, the latest of a Samoan family’s dynasty to play for the club, has had his request for a work permit turned down by the Home Office.

It means the 19-year-old is not allowed to play for the club professionally, and could be sent back to the Pacific Islands.

Leicester’s head of operations, Simon Cohen, said the decision had left Tuilagi “devastated”, but pledged the club would do everything it could to fight the decision.

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