Manu Tuilagi latest: Leicester Tigers' rivals seek to tempt England centre with pots of cash

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Manu Tuilagi made just four appearances for Leicester last season and has not been seen on a rugby field in 13 months, but the Midlanders are increasingly aware – and wary – of suggestions that the human bowling ball may soon be rolling out of Welford Road for good.

At least four English clubs have been linked with the injury-plagued England centre and, while Wasps and Worcester are distancing themselves from any bid, there is scarcely a soul who does not believe that big-money offers are on the table – least of all Richard Cockerill, the Tigers’ rugby director.

“Clearly, there are people trying to lure him to smaller clubs than Leicester by offering him huge amounts of cash,” he said . “I was under the impression that you weren’t allowed to speak to anyone until January, but c’est la vie. If you want to prise away a player like Manu, the only thing you can offer is obscene amounts of money. Then it’s a case of a player moving for that reason only. And Manu is 24. It’s not like he’s in his early thirties.

“We’d love him to stay and we’ve put our best foot forward by offering him a very good contract that would make him very well-paid in world terms.”

Tuilagi, out of contract at season’s end, is back running after a bad groin injury, but Cockerill could not put a date on his return.

Given Leicester’s patience, did Cockerill think the club should expect some loyalty? “You can expect it to a point,” he said. “I’d just like to think that people realise how good the club has been to him.”

Matthew Rees, the Cardiff Blues and Wales hooker, has been banned for seven weeks for stamping on the Harlequins and England No 8 Nick Easter during a European Challenge Cup game at the Arms Park a week ago.