Background
Tuilagi was born 9 June 1971 in Apia, Samoa, and gained his first international experience playing for Samoa on the 1991 tour to New Zealand.
rugby league player rugby union player
Tuilagi was born 9 June 1971 in Apia, Samoa, and gained his first international experience playing for Samoa on the 1991 tour to New Zealand.
He played as a wing or centre and now is currently retired. His first name is often anglicised to Freddie. Tuilagi is the oldest of seven brothers: Henry, Olotuli, Alesana, Anitelea, Vavae and Manu.
Tuilagi currently coaches children at his own rugby skills course named "Tuilagi Rugby Skills Courses".
He was also selected for Samoa’s 1991 Rugby World Cup squad but did not play in any of the matches. Between 1992 and 1995 he toured with Samoa to Australia and South Africa, and was included in their 1995 Rugby World Cup squad.
He played against South Africa in the quarter final. After the 1995 world cup, Tuilagi turned professional for the Halifax Rugby League team, making 57 Super League appearances for them in two years, scoring an impressive 26 tries.
In 1999 he joined Street Tuilagi played for Street Helens RLFC at second-row forward in their 1999 Super League Grand Final victory over Bradford Bulls.
He also played for Street Helens from the interchange bench, scoring a try in their 2000 Super League Grand Final victory over Wigan Warriors. He"d made 35 appearances, scoring eleven tries. He left Saint Helens in June 2000 and signed for Leicester Tigers, also making his return to the Samoa national side.
He toured with them in the summer of 2002.
He was also selected to tour New Zealand, but was prevented from doing so by an injury, which also denied him a place in national side"s world cup squad. In 2004-2005 season Tuilagi signed for Cardiff Blues.
Unfortunately injury limited the number of times he was able to play for Cardiff and was released early In 2005-2006 season Tuilagi played for Castres Olympique in the French Top 14. Since retiring from playing, Tuilagi has acted as an agent for several players – mainly Samoans playing abroad through his company Global Bro Sports.
Tuilagi also had a spell playing American Football for the Leicester Falcons during the 2008 and 2009 seasons.