The new Tuilagi? Sale's Ma'asi-White on following his idol
Before Saturday's Premiership semi-final between the two teams, Sale centre Rekeiti Ma'asi-White is keen to clear something up.It's true that as an 11-year-old, his uncle gave him a Leicester shirt. But to say he was a Tigers fan isn't quite right.Because a young Ma'asi-White was more interested in the number 12 on the back, than the badge on the front."I was a big fan of Manu," he says. "I only supported Leicester because of Manu really."He has the same kind of background – he is of Samoan descent, I am half Tongan-half English,"I aspired to be like him and achieve what did he did. I was in the forwards at that age. Thankfully I progressed!"It wasn't just Tuilagi. Former All Black midfielders Malakai Fekitoa and Ma'a Nonu were also inspirations.But Tuilagi was the example Ma'asi-White had seen closest up.Ma'asi-White's father Viliami, who represented Tonga at 2003 Rugby World Cup, played with Manu's brother Anitelea at Leeds in the latter stages of his career. The two families bonded."Manu used to come round when we lived in Leeds for a little session together of food and stuff," says Ma'asi-White."I was quite young at the time, and didn't realise who everyone was, I didn't know how cool it was until I was a bit older."
When Wasps went bust in 2022, Ma'asi-White and fellow academy prospect Asher Opoku-Fordjour were signed up by Sale. Tuilagi had left Leicester for the north west two years previously."He told me I used to look like a little rat!" remembers Ma'asi-White of their reunion and shared memories of backyard get-togethers more than a decade previously."I learned quite a bit from him though after that."Viliami is still his primary teacher though.Having played into his forties, Vili is now coaching, steering Oundle to the fourth tier this season.Rekeiti though is an impressive side project.Logging in from his Peterborough home, Viliami will watch footage of every Sale training session. The morning before every game, Rekeiti gets a call with a checklist of things to focus on. After, he will get another, reviewing whether he has hit those targets."It is technical, mental, everything," says Ma'asi-White."He will say, 'there is still more in you, you are not running hard enough, you need to tackle harder.'"And I love that because it pushes me to become a better player."
Ma'asi-White's improvement has been steep and stark.The 22-year-old, who started the season on loan at Championship side Caldy, only made his first start of the season for Sale in January.Tasked with thumping over the gainline against Toulon, he helped the Sharks to a 33-7 win and, with George Ford and Rob du Preez pulling the strings at 10 and 13, the 12 shirt has been his ever since.Ma'asi-White has scored in each of Sale's last four games, showing he can find holes, as well as break down doors.He was called into the England senior squad for the first time last month.If his freight-train physicality and deceptively fleet feet do for Leicester on Saturday, comparisons with his old idol Tuilagi and the clamour for his inclusion in England's summer tour to Argentina will only grow.
Opposite him at Welford Road will be a familiar face. He and Joe Woodward were England's under-20's centre partnership for a couple of years."He is a very good distributor, good link player, a ball carrier and he has got that kicking game too - a triple threat really," Ma'asi-White says of his former team-mate."I think we worked quite well together, we had some good times."Only one will be celebrating on Saturday though.Woodward and Leicester won at Welford Road last month, but Sale, 10 points up with half an hour to go, were left ruing indiscipline that let the hosts back into that game."There has been a lot of talk about us not being an 80-minutes team," says Ma'asi-White."We let them in the game in that second half so there is a big emphasis on discipline going into this weekend and to try and minimise that penalty count and use the scrum and line out to give us that advantage across the full game."If they do, a Premiership final awaits for Sale.And, for Ma'asi-White, the possibility of facing the Pumas with England will grow."Going down to Pennyhill Park for that two-day camp, it was exciting, to see all these big-time players was special," he says."I went with the idea that I would just give it everything. In the taxi home, I was just spent, I had no energy left."I have to take it step by step and do my best here, but going to Argentina is the plan - that is my target."So far this season, those have worked out just fine.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
27 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Liverpool agree deal to sign Parma defender Giovanni Leoni
Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Parma defender Giovanni Leoni. It is understood the Reds will pay €30 million plus add-ons for the 18-year-old. Advertisement Leoni is expected to undergo a medical on Thursday as head coach Arne Slot has moved to strengthen his options at centre-back. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Giovanni Leoni (@giovannileonii) He played most of pre-season with just two recognised specialists in the role – Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate – as Joe Gomez, who returned to training this week, was injured and Jarell Quansah was sold to Bayer Leverkusen. Liverpool are still interested in Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi, who has a year left on his contract, but have so far been unable to agree a fee. 'The clubs have agreed a deal but he hasn't signed for us yet. The moment when he signs for us I can go into more detail,' said Slot, who refused to speculate on their pursuit of Guehi. 'He (Guehi) is not our player and unfortunately he was the captain of the team we lost against last Sunday. Advertisement 'If you want any talks on him you should go to Palace and (Oliver) Glasner and ask his opinion about it.'
Reuters
27 minutes ago
- Reuters
Rooney says Brady questioning work ethic was unfair
Aug 14 (Reuters) - Wayne Rooney has hit back at Tom Brady after the NFL great questioned his work ethic during his brief managerial spell at second-tier English club Birmingham City, saying the criticism was "very unfair". Former New England Patriots quarterback Brady, minority owner of Birmingham, in an Amazon Prime documentary series titled, 'Built In Birmingham: Brady & The Blues', had said he was a little worried about Rooney's work ethic. Ex-Manchester United and England forward Rooney, 39, was dismissed as the manager of Birmingham in January last year after less than three months in the role, following a winless run that left the club hovering above the relegation zone. "I think Tom came in once, which was the day before a game where the days are a little bit lighter anyway, and I don't think he really understood football that well," Rooney said on the Wayne Rooney Show podcast. "But what he does understand is, he's a hard worker, we know that." "Football is not NFL – NFL works for three months a year. Players do need rest as well, so I think he's very unfair, the way he's come out and portrayed that." Seven-times Super Bowl champion Brady became a minority owner in Birmingham in August 2023. "Listen, I respect Tom Brady massively," Rooney said. "He's one of the greatest, if not the greatest athletes of all time and Birmingham do look like they're getting it right now, which is good, and I think what they have done is got the players out that they needed to get out."
The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
Teenager wins university place after poolside chat led to life-changing bursary
A teenager is celebrating top A-level grades after a chance conversation led to him being offered a free place at his dream school. Former competitive swimmer turned-rower, Felix Merritt, 18, gained a 110% bursary to attend Millfield School in Somerset. It happened after his mother got chatting to a stranger whilst poolside, who told her about the Springboard charity and encouraged them to apply. The teenager gained A grades in maths, physics and product design while living with the long-term conditions ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. He now plans to study mechanical engineering at the University of Bath. Mr Merritt recently competed in the British Rowing Championships and came home with a silver medal in the Men's Beginner 2x category having only been rowing for a year. Having previously represented Great Britain in 2022 in the 100/200m backstroke events, he discovered rowing at Millfield, forming strong friendships and regularly training with former students in Bath, as well as using facilities on campus. Springboard connects children from disadvantaged backgrounds with boarding schools that are willing to provide 110% bursaries. The bursary, funded by Millfield, not only covers fees but includes uniform and sports kit, travel to and from school and essential items. Originally from East Sussex, the teenager moved to Dorchester with his mother and younger sister during lockdown. He attended a state school in Dorchester but believed he could succeed better at a school offering smaller class sizes and greater support. To help with his condition, Mr Merritt was supported by his house parents who regularly cooked gluten-free options to help him manage his symptoms. The teenager, who joined in lower sixth as a boarder, said: 'I am overjoyed with my results and so grateful for the opportunities that I have had these past two years at what I can only describe as my dream school that was always out of reach. 'Coming to Millfield really focused me. I would not have done as well if I stayed at my old school. 'The support that I have had in house has been amazing and I cannot thank them enough. 'Millfield has really boosted me academically and I think that is due to the teachers, being around like-minded peers, and the support from my house parents.' Headmaster Gavin Horgan said: 'Felix epitomises what Millfield can do for a young person given the opportunity to access and balance academics and sport at high levels. 'To also manage health conditions and switch and excel in a new sport is testament to the hard work he has put into making the most of his two years in sixth form. 'We wish him the very best in his future path.'
