3. Manu Tuilagi – Samoa (Eligible in 2027)
What a phenomenal way this would be for Manu Tuilagi to end his international career. The 60-capped England international stayed on in the Premiership for a season longer than the plethora of departing teammates, as Tuilagi ran out for Sale Sharks for the 2023/24 campaign. However, the Samoan bulldozer would depart Salford in a move to Bayonne in the Top 14, to also end his England Test career.
Tuilagi’s last involvement in an England jersey was the 2024 Six Nations clash with France, for a 21-minute appearance off the bench in Paris. This involvement has subsequently pushed Tuilagi’s stand-down period from international rugby back to March of 2027, when a 35-year-old midfielder could look for a run in the Samoan squad for that year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Even a season or two ago, the likelihood of this happening was rather far-fetched, as Tuilagi had wrestled injuries for the best part of five years. The latter part of his run with Leicester Tigers was hindered with trips to the recovery wards, yet Tuilagi looks to have a new lease on his fitness out in France. Tuilagi was tremendous in Bayonne’s latest Top 14 campaign, as he was a stalwart of the side’s fourth placed finish. The centre earned his spot in the Top 14 Team of the Season, alongside his former England teammates David Ribbans and Jack Willis.
4. Nic Dolly – Australia (Eligible Now)
Twice-capped for England under Eddie Jones, hooker Nic Dolly is currently knocking on the door for a run with the Wallabies squad. A former front rower for Sale Sharks, Leicester Tigers and Coventry, Dolly made his England caps against South Africa in the 2021 Autumn Series, and then against France in the 2022 Six Nations. The 26-year-old decided to cut his losses and ended his England career, given the depth of hookers that were all vying to surpass the ever-present Jamie George.
Dolly would pursue his Australian heritage with a move to Western Force, coming after an injury-riddled final season with Leicester. Dolly would head ‘down under’ ahead of the 2025 Super Rugby season, where he made his debut for the Force this past February against Moana Pasifika. A solid season saw the hooker make 13 Super Rugby appearances, with eleven starts under his belt for the Perth side.
A memorable first year in Australia was capped off for Dolly, as he was as a replacement for the Western Force’s recent clash with the British & Irish Lions. Taking on his former England camp teammates Maro Itoje and Elliot Daly, the Force were well beaten by the Lions (54-7), as Andy Farrell’s side were seeking revenge following their upset defeat to Argentina. Dolly has since extended his stay with the Western Force through to 2028, and will be pushing to make the Wallabies squad for the 2027 Rugby World Cup on his new home soil.
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