Manu Tuilagi joins England's Six Nations training squad
Tuesday 1 March 2016 15:28, UK
England have confirmed Manu Tuilagi has joined their Six Nations training squad ahead of the match with Wales on March 12.
The Leicester centre has recently returned to first-team duty for the Tigers after a serious groin injury sidelined him for 15 months.
Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill said Tuilagi would be linking up with the England squad for the first time since the tour of New Zealand in the summer of 2014.
The 24-year-old is among a group of 33 players who have gathered in Bath to begin preparations for the potentially title-deciding showdown against Wales, while Exeter back rower Dave Ewers also returns to the group.
A statement on the English RFU's official website read: "Both players were initially named in the Elite Playing Squad but will join up with Eddie Jones' squad for the first time after recovering from injuries."
England need two more wins to secure a Grand Slam in their first Six Nations under new head coach Jones, following wins over Scotland, Italy and Ireland, and the England boss has already hinted that there is a chance Tuilagi could feature from the bench against Wales.
"He probably only has 20 minutes of Test rugby in him at the moment but that 20 minutes could be pretty good," said Jones.
"I went and watched him play against Harlequins two weeks ago and he looked in pretty good nick. If Manu comes in and makes a dash, he is going to have a chance of getting into the 23."
Having missed the World Cup last autumn due to a combination of injury and suspension, Tuilagi picked up a hamstring strain when he returned to action in January and had to sit out a further three games.
However, he was back for the loss at Harlequins on February 19 and impressed against London Irish on Sunday, playing the full 80 minutes in a 47-20 victory.
In his absence, Owen Farrell and Jonathan Joseph have formed England's centre partnership and the duo are likely to remain in tandem for the remaining two rounds of the Championship against Wales and France.
But a return to international duty for Tuilagi, an explosive ball-carrier when on song, will be considered exciting news by England rugby followers.
He returns to the group at the expense of Ollie Devoto, although the Bath centre had already been struggling with concussion and Ewers takes the place of Sale number eight Josh Beaumont, who has been sidelined by a dislocated shoulder.
