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Manu Tuilagi believes a Samoan 'witch doctor' may have cured his injury curse

Leicester Tigers' Manu Tuilagi in action against Ospreys at Welford Road. [Photo by Rachel Holborn/Camerasport]
Three spirits are to blame for the injury crisis that has blighted his career, apparently

Leicester Tigers star centre Manu Tuilagi believes his injury nightmare is over - after visiting a witch doctor in Samoa.

The explosive England international has hardly played in the last few seasons because of a string of problems.

Last week Manu - who grew up in Hinckley - returned to Samoa after his mum suggested he should see a spiritual healer, Wales Online reports.

From Monday to Thursday he made the hour-long boat ride from Samoa's mainland to the island of Upolu where the potentially deadly female spirits were banished by balming him with Fijian oil.

"I saw the witch doctor for two hours a day and she said she found what the illness was," the British and Irish Lions centre told BT Sport Rugby.

"She was half Fijian and half Samoan and found out that there were three lady spirits who had married themselves on to me for the last three years.

"The witch doctor told me that was why I had been injured. The spirits wanted me for themselves - they wanted to punish me and injuring me was the way to do it. Every time I played - bang!

"Now they have gone - the whole body massages have blocked the spirits from me.

"They can't see me and find me now - but maybe when it comes out in this newspaper they will know again?!

"This is the first time I have done it and I hope to be back playing in mid-December. Now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel."

"They can't see me and find me now - but maybe when it comes out in this newspaper they will know again?!

"This is the first time I have done it and I hope to be back playing in mid-December. Now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel."

Read more at Leicester Mercury