Hamstring injury rules Manu Tuilagi out of England’s tour of Australia
Manu Tuilagi has been forced out of England’s three-Test tour of Australia this summer, bringing a season blighted by injury to a disappointing end.
The Leicester centre was injured during Saturday’s Premiership play-off semi-final against Saracens and the results of a scan have confirmed a significant hamstring tear.
England head coach Eddie Jones said: “It’s bad luck for Manu so close to the tour, but it provides a great opportunity for someone else. We wish him all the best and a quick recovery.”
A replacement for Tuilagi will be announced following Sunday’s Test against Wales at Twickenham, with Luther Burrell and Ollie DeVoto in the frame.
Meanwhile, former England captain Will Carling believes Chris Ashton has effectively ended his Test career by refusing to be part of the Saxons tour to South Africa.
Carling, England’s double Grand Slam-winning skipper, views the decision by Jones to leave the Saracens wing out of the tour of Australia and ask him to be a member of the second string squad as a test of character.
Carling said today on Twitter: “Think Ashton & [Danny] Cipriani Saxons selections were to assess character over a tour/ close up — Ashton’s refusal could finish his England career.”
Ashton has frequently been in the headlines during a rollercoaster season that saw him left out of the World Cup squad, then offered hope of a recall before being banned for 10 weeks for gouging.
