Alesana Tuilagi

Ex-international admits scary encounter with Alesana Tuilagi still haunts him five years later

Ex-Tigers and Samoa winger Alesana, who won 38 Test caps (37 for the Samoans and one for Pacific Islands), was one brother from the iconic family that had a long history of making the life of wingers or fly-halves – many of whom were half his size – a living hell. 

While it was unfortunate for some players to encounter him, that was ultimately their job and former Canada winger Phil Mackenzie has now shared memories of the occasion when he thought it was a good idea to square up to Tuilagi.

Samoan Alesana Tuilagi suspended for five weeks

Tuilagi struck Japan's Harumichi Tatekawa with his knee in the second minute of the Pool B match on Sunday.

He denied the act of foul play but was found guilty by the citing commissioner and will miss Samoa's last match against Scotland at St James' Park on Sunday.

Samoa cannot reach the quarter-finals after losses to Japan and South Africa in Pool B.