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France-bound Manu Tuirangi admits he will not be able to play for England but is excited about the team's future.
The 32-year-old center left Sale Sharks at the end of the season and signed a two-year contract with Top 14 side Bayonne.
It was his 60th cap for England, who lost to France in the Six Nations in March, ending a 13-year international career for the Samoan-born star after his naturalization.
Under RFU rules, state players who leave the Premiership are not eligible for international selection.
Tuirangi told BBC North West tonight: “It's a difficult game because I still want to play.” [for England] But I learned that you don't always get what you want. I'm going to miss you, but I'll be a fan from now on.
“It’s exciting to see Ireland play France in the final two games of the Six Nations and decide the outcome. I’m looking forward to watching the players continue to develop. I think there’s a lot of improvement in the team. I'm very excited.”
Tuirangi's final home game on Friday (19:45 CET) will be against Leicester Tigers, the club where he spent the first 11 years of his professional career.
“What are the chances?” he said. “It's going to be very special. My time here was amazing and it will stay with me forever.”
The Sharks will look to secure a top-four finish with their remaining two games against Tigers and Saracens, but Tuilagi said it would be “a bonus” if they could leave England as champions.
“For the last six to eight weeks we've said we have to perform every weekend and that's no different this weekend as we head into the business end of the season.”
“The unknown is the most exciting thing,” Tuirangi said of signing with Bayonne, adding, “It's something new…I don't know what's going to happen. This is part of the journey. I'm excited.”
