England superstar outside center, Manu Tuilagi may be wearing the England’s jersey representing his adopted home in the finale of this year’s Rugby World Cup at Yokohama International Stadium tomorrow night.
However, beneath the white and red-rose jersey, is a brown Samoan boy representing his family, village and Samoan roots.
‘Super-Manu’ as known by many is the youngest son of a high chief from Fatausi and holds the matai title, Tuita’asaualii from Fatausi. A small village in the Safotulafai district in Savaii.
Meanwhile in Fatausi, England flags and banners are seen all around the village, on the sides of the road, infront of the villager’s houses to show their support for the Fatausi born and bred chief, Manu Tuilagi.
Something which Manu uttered “means the world” to him.
“You know, when you’re growing up, your village is your identity; it’s where you’re from,” said Manu.
"People will know where you’re from, they’ll be like “Oh where is he from? And the village is the first thing that will come up.
“And you’re proud of your village and proud of where you live, you know growing up as a kid you play rugby against (the) kids from the other village; your village against their village.
“It means the world to me.
“So for me, I just want to thank them for their support.”
Manu used the opportunity to express his gratitude towards his village in his native language and vows to do his best to represent them.
“Fatausi, faafekai mo le kou kapuaiga! Lea la’a ou kaumafai; faamoemoe ile Akua!"
“Thank you for your support and I will do my best for you guys.”
The 28-year-old chief may be a Superstar rugby player; however, his parents, Namulauulu Lauaki Vavae Tuilagi and Su’a Taupa’u Aliitasi Tuilagi still call him their “baby.”
Asked about his relationship with his parents, Manu said ‘he owes them everything.’
“My relationship with my parents’ is very important,” he articulated.
“You know I owe everything to them…for what they’ve done, bringing us all up.
“It wasn’t easy; there are a lot of us and I know (how) hard they both worked to get us in a better place and a better future for us.
“They’re very hard-working people.
“My dad still wakes up at 5:00oclock in the morning which I didn’t enjoy because he would wake up (early) in the morning and get me to wake up.
“He would make a coffee and turn the light on at 5am in the morning and called out to my brothers and I’d pretend to sleep.
“But yeah we’re all thankful, me and my brothers are thankful to my mom and dad for their support and their continuous blessing to us.
“They pray for us; (and they) pray to God to give us strength and power to be able to play and perform the talent that we’ve been blessed with.”
As the son of a village chief, Manu said his father was his “hero” growing up.
“My dad is the high chief in the village and one of the high chiefs of the island (Savaii), so you know my dad is my hero really.
“You know growing up, I looked up to my dad, and he’s the man,” he said laughing.
“He wasn’t a rugby player, he was a boxer.
“Heavyweight champion of the world haha," he said jokingly.
"He’s a very hardworking man and he led us to try and be like him.
“We’re not there most of the time and we miss them a lot, so we try and get back to Samoa whenever we can.”
Manu was a key player in England’s victory against the All Blacks last week-end with a try for the red-rose team in just 98 seconds into the game. 
 Today, Manu Tuilagi will be the only Samoan playing in the finals for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.