Leicester Tigers are fighting to stop one of their brightest young prospects being deported.

Manu Tuilagi, the latest of a Samoan family's dynasty to play for the club, has had his request for a work permit turned down by the Home Office.

It means the 19-year-old is not allowed to play for the club professionally, and could be sent back to the Pacific Islands.

Leicester's head of operations, Simon Cohen, said the decision had left Tuilagi "devastated", but pledged the club would do everything it could to fight the decision.

Mr Cohen added that he was shocked that the Home Office would turn down a request from someone who many expect to become a full England international in the near future, having already represented England Under-18s.

The Tuilagi family came to the UK about six years ago. Manu, who was educated at John Cleveland College, in Hinckley, is a member of the Tigers' academy and has followed brothers Freddie, Henry, Andy, Alesana and Vavae through the ranks at Welford Road.

They were able to stay and play for Tigers because they had previously played for their country.

"To enable Manu to stay in the country and play professional rugby, there were two stages we needed to go through," said Mr Cohen.

"Firstly, the governing body has to endorse his stay and the Home Office then has to allow him to stay in the country."

He said the first of those went to an independent Rugby Union panel which had Rob Andrew, England's director of elite rugby, and Mark McCafferty, chief executive of the Guinness Premiership's umbrella body, Premier Rugby, on it. The panel gave him a governing body endorsement.

An application was then made to the Home Office, but it was refused.

"Manu is absolutely devastated," said Mr Cohen. "He's in limbo. He cannot play professional rugby but he can only appeal if they decide to deport him.

"It could go on like that for years."

Manu was expected to play a huge part in Tigers' 2010/11 campaign, either on the wing or in the centres where he made a name for himself in the club's famous win over South Africa in their friendly last season. He was able to play for the second team, the academy and in friendly games without being registered, but not play professionally.

If he returned to Samoa and played for its national side, it is likely he would have little trouble coming back to England and getting a work permit as an international player. But Manu, who sees himself as English having spent his teenage years here, is desperate to try to play for England.

Mr Cohen said Manu was "significantly different from any other person in his position" and that the Home Office had not given his application "the special consideration it deserved".

"First of all, he is effectively English. His schooling and his friends are all here," he said.

"Secondly, he is clearly going to be an outstanding rugby player and, if he stays in the country, he will pay taxes in excess of £10,000 a year into the economy for several years.

"Finally, he is an outstanding national asset."

Mr Cohen said the club had written to MPs to ask for help.

The solicitor working on Manu's behalf, Chris Randall of London-based Bates, Wells and Braithwaite, said: "There are good reasons why he should be allowed to stay in the country and do what he does."

Leicester East MP Keith Vaz had written to Labour's immigration minister Phil Woolas before the General Election and would be writing to his successor in David Cameron's Government "to see what can be done".

The Leicester Mercury asked the Home Office why the application had been refused.

In response, a UK Border Agency spokesperson said in a statement: "There are strict rules about which foreign nationals can get a job in the UK and businesses have a clear responsibility to carry out the right checks. It is up to individuals and employers to ensure that they have the right to stay and work in the UK, those who flout these rules face tough penalties."

According to its website, applications are marked on a points-based system judged against three criteria: a certificate of sponsorship, English language skills and available maintenance or funds.