Tuilagi will no longer wear Sale rugby clothing

Centre Anitelea Tuilagi is leaving Sale Sharks, the north-west club has confirmed, after negotiating his departure with the Samoan international.

The player, who arrived from Leeds Carnegie in West Yorkshire in 2008, made some 42 appearances for the side and scored a total of three tries.

Having signed a four-year contract at Edgeley Park, he still had 12 months to run but an agreement has been reached for him to depart immediately.

Tuilagi made his debut for the Sharks against Cardiff Blues in a home match soon after signing for the club, but he will not wear its famous rugby clothing again.

Sale could be looking to overhaul their squad following a disappointing season last time out, in which they finished tenth in the 12-team Aviva Premiership.

The team won only six of its 22 fixtures and was kept off the bottom by Newcastle Falcons and Leeds Carnegie, who endured miserable campaigns.