Manu Tuilagi: Leicester centre included in 37-man England training squad

By Chris JonesBBC Radio 5 live rugby reporter

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Unioncomments86

Manu Tuilagi on the charge for Leicester
Leicester centre Tuilagi has not played since January because of a knee injury

Manu Tuilagi has been named in a 37-man England pre-season training squad for a three day-camp starting on Saturday.

The Leicester centre, who has not played since January because of a knee injury, won the last of his 26 caps in the 2016 Six Nations.

Uncapped Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith, 18, is also included.

Seven players who toured with the British and Irish Lions will attend one day in the camp, with the rest opting to remain on holiday.

With 15 players in total away with the Lions, a young England squad secured an impressive 2-0 series victory in Argentina.

Nine of those who made their debuts in June are included in this squad, including teenage rookies Tom Curry and Nick Isiekwe.

The camp will involve medical check-ups, rugby training and individual reviews as England prepare for the upcoming autumn internationals.

They face Argentina, Australia and Samoa in November.

"We are at an incredibly important stage with two years to go to the Rugby World Cup in Japan," said head coach Eddie Jones.

"There is still a big step to make if we want to be the number one team in the world.

"We are going to have to be meticulous in preparation in everything we do as we build towards Tokyo and that is why this camp is vital."

England training squad in full:

Forwards: Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby), Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons), Billy Vunipola (Saracens).

Backs: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Nathan Earle (Saracens), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Piers Francis (Northampton Saints), Alex Lozowski (Saracens), Harry Mallinder (Northampton Saints), Joe Marchant (Harlequins), Jack Maunder (Exeter Chiefs), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Denny Solomona (Sale Sharks), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

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86 comments

  • Ah good, this will give him the opportunity to get the season-ending injury out the way before the season even starts

  • Of course Manu is part of the squad. He has had a succession of injuries and there are doubts as to whether he will ever be fully fit. But if he is then no centre in the world relishes standing in the the line to face him.

  • 9. I take it you didnt dee Tom Curry play against Argentina, true 7 for years to come.

    Manu may be a bench player these days but which opposition will fancy him coming on with 20 to go??

  • Good to see him back

  • @13 - jeez when you put it like that, Leicester could be real challengers next year (this year?)

  • Hooray - the Paapy Pooper's back with more erudite ramblings on how awful we all are for being English! You can't buy entertainment like this folks so just sit back and enjoy the ride while he foams at the mouth.....

  • If fit he adds something different for England and will always distract defenders, as a Tigers fan looking forward to a Youngs, Ford, Tuilagi, May Toomua, Veainu back with good bench options

  • To the people asking about Lawes. "Seven players who toured with the British and Irish Lions will attend one day in the camp, with the rest opting to remain on holiday."
    Vast majority who played with the Lions aren't joining up with this squad. E.g. Lawes, Marler, Te'o.

  • Tuligani is an unstoppable force and people seem to think he is a past generation, hes mid twenties so still a young player. If he stays injury free he will only make England better as he is a real match winner, see New Zealand 2012!

  • A fine powerful player - such a shame he is so injury prone.

  • Lawes, Mako ..... Seven players who toured with the British and Irish Lions will attend one day in the camp, with the rest opting to remain on holiday

  • Not sure he will add much to the style that England are currently going for.

    The current squad has outgrown his ability IMO.

  • 56. PaaPaa

    It is so good to have to posting on HYS.

    So every time you post it reminds me how good England's results are. 😁

    Here's to many more posts from you!!!!

  • @56 It is obvious that your stupidity knows no bounds! "Annihilated by Ireland" ?!?!?

  • "Arrogance knows no bounds when you are English."

    Under Lancaster England had one of the most humble teams around. And still the English were accused of arrogance. So if we're going to be accused of it no matter what, we might as well be arrogant. We're ranked number 2 in the world which means unless you support NZ, we're better than you. And we know it.

    So suck it chump.

  • Slightly off topic but I'd like to say well done Bath RFC for looking after Craig Mitchell after he suffered a shoulder injury while on trial with them. Great response from them I think

  • @4 You're obviously looking at the wrong article - there's 3 pieces about the new Pro 14 on the Rugby homepage alone as well as several other articles over the last week or so relating to it. There's been very little else going on recently apparently apart from Halpenny's move to the Scarlets...

    ;o)

  • Considering he hasn't played since January and before that only sporadically due to injury, Manu is quite a long way off contention for a match day squad. I imagine he's there because of his potential and because Jones will want to set out exactly what he needs to do on and off the pitch to get anywhere. We will see. As for Te'o, he went well for the Lions against SBW and has potential too.

  • Wade? Cipriani? KP? Lord Lucan?

  • @12 You ask a valid question. Another is why is Wade not there. Answer to the latter is that EJ thinks he is too small. As fantastic a job as EJ has done, to him, size does matter! He would never have picked Jason Robinson, I suspect!!!

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