Tuilagi admitted he was surprised to land December’s prize ahead of his Leicester Tigers teammates Tom Croft and Louis Deacon.
The Samoa international, currently the joint leading try scorer for Tigers this season, won the supporters’ vote and was presented with a Tag Heuer Aquaracer watch by award sponsors Goldsmiths on the final whistle of Saturday’s Aviva Premiership win over London Wasps.
“I am really surprised to win the award,” said Tuilagi, who was the leading scorer in Aviva Premiership Rugby last season. “It was a really nice surprise to receive the watch from Goldsmiths. Happy Christmas!
“I am really happy to win the award. I haven’t won it for a long time so to win it now is a nice late Christmas present.
“Thank you to Goldsmiths for the award and to the Tigers supporters for voting for me.”
The Tigers player of the month award is supported by Goldsmiths, the largest prestige and luxury jewellers in the UK. Goldsmiths are also official East Stand sponsors at Welford Road and official timekeepers.
Horacio Agulla, Billy Twelvetrees and Geoff Parling are all previous winners of the Goldsmiths Player of the Month award this season.
