ALEX TUILAGI

Whilst at Parma, whom he played with for two seasons, Alex was equal second top try scorer of the league for the 2003–04 season, with 12 tries in total for the season. He helped them get to the semi-finals of both the domestic competition, and the Parker Pen Shield. 

Alex made his debut for Samoa in a 2003 Rugby World Cup qualifier against Fiji in June 2002. He was included in the Pacific Islanders rugby union team tour to Europe in late 2006 and played a significant part in the Samoan national teams' successes in the Rugby World Cup in 2007.

Alex enjoyed his best-ever season in 2010/11, finishing the season as the club's top try-scorer and as Aviva Premiership top scorer for the first time. The big Samoan collected 17 tries in all competitions, with 13 in the Premiership, including the match-winner in the semi-final against Northampton Saints and a hat-trick against Gloucester at Welford Road.

Playing alongside younger brother Manu, Alesana lined up against older sibling Henry during the Heineken Cup in 2010/11 and has also played against Anitelea in the Premiership. He has started eight of Tigers’ nine finals since 2006/07, missing out only on the Guinness Premiership Final against London Irish in 2009 due to suspension. He was Man of the Match in the 2006/07 Premiership Final win over Gloucester, scoring two tries, and started the 2010 final when Leicester defeated Saracens. He was also named Supporters’ Player of the Year in same season.

Alex was again included in Samoa's squad to the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. He started in all 4 pool games and scored a hat trick against Namibia. After the eight years with Leicester, he left following the 2011–12 Aviva Premiership season to join NTT Communications Shining Arcs of the Japanese Top League. On 8 May 2014, Tuilagi returned to England to compete in the Aviva Premiership with Newcastle Falcons on a two-year contract, rejoining with his brother Anitelea Tuilagi.

HISTORIC WIN

Alex was part of the Samoan squad that beat Australia 32 – 23 on 17 July 2011 at Sydney in a test match. He made the opening try as Samoa ran in 4 tries to Australia's two.

CAREER IN NUMBERS

2002-2004 Parma

2004-2012 Leicester Tigers

2012-2014 NTT Communications Shining Arcs

2014-2016 Newcastle Falcons

2016-2017 RC Toulonnais

NATIONAL TEAMS
2002-2015 Samoa

2005 Pacific Islanders