Former England centre Manu Tuilagi has made a powerful statement in the 2024/25 Top 14 campaign, earning a spot in the Team of the Season. Tuilagi is joined alongside his fellow exiled England internationals Jack Willis and David Ribbans, who have also excelled in France this season.

The trio’s inclusion is a testament to their impact in one of Europe’s toughest leagues and highlights how these ‘exiled’ players continue to shine away from the Premiership spotlight. This accomplishment from Tuilagi, Ribbans and Willis acts as a reminder to the RFU to look into their eligibility laws, as currently, no players based at clubs outside of England can play for Steve Borthwick’s side.

The 60-capped England centre, has enjoyed a strong campaign with Bayonne, following his move from Sale Sharks at the end of the 2023/24 season. Despite a challenging few years plagued by injuries and questions over his on-field future, Tuilagi has re-established himself as a formidable force with a new-lease on his club career.

The 34-year-old still has an abundance of physicality, direct running, and line-breaking left to give, as he was instrumental in Bayonne’s fourth placed finish this season, in what was a milestone campaign for the Basque side.

Jack Willis has also been tearing up trees with Toulouse since the financial collapse of his former club Wasps, all the way back in Autumn 2022. Thought by many fans and pundits alike to be heading to Australia with the British & Irish Lions, Willis has been the heart-beat of Stade Toulousain’s title triumph and a stand-out back row throughout the league.

David Ribbans joins Willis in the Team of the Season forward pack, following a tremendous Top 14 campaign with RC Toulon. The South Easterly side finished third overall in the Top 14 table, with Ribbans running out for solid shifts in 22 league matches, with his name etched firmly across the engine room starting spots. Ribbans confidently packed down in both the four and five jerseys, with Toulon reaping the rewards of his blistering breakdown work and tireless battling around the park.

Top 14 team of the season

15. Thomas Ramos (Toulouse)
14. Damian Penaud (Bordeaux-Begles)
13. Sireli Maqala (Bayonne)
12. Manu Tuilagi (Bayonne)
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux-Begles)
10. Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux-Begles)
9. Maxime Lucu (Bordeaux-Begles)

1. Jean-Baptiste Gros (Toulon)
2. Maxime Lamothe (Bordeaux-Begles)
3. Ben Tameifuna (Bordeaux-Begles)
4. David Ribbans (Toulon)
5. Thibaud Flament (Toulouse)
6. François Cros (Toulouse)
7. Jack Willis (Toulouse)
8. Facundo Isa (Toulon)

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