Tuilagi a doubt for England tour

Omnisports

May 22, 2016 9:53 AM

England could be without centre Manu Tuilagi for their tour to Australia after he pulled his hamstring on Saturday.

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Manu Tuilagi is a major doubt for England's tour of Australia after pulling his hamstring during Leicester Tigers' Premiership play-off defeat to Saracens.

The centre was substituted midway through the first half during Saturday's 44-17 defeat after making an impressive start – his try after 40 seconds wiped out due to an earlier infringement.

However, as Saracens took control, the England international suffered his injury as he tried to stop Chris Wyles scoring his first try.

Tuilagi limped off and spent the rest of the match with an ice pack applied on his right leg.

Leicester's director of rugby Richard Cockerill confirmed the nature of his injury – although a timescale on Tuilagi's absence remains unclear.

"Manu pulled his hamstring," said Cockerill. "I don't know how bad it is but it's not great.

"We don't know if he's out of the [England] tour, we'll see how he gets on in the next 48 hours before assessing how bad it is.

"It happens. He's a powerful athlete and he's tweaked his hamstring. That's life, he'll get over it."

Meanwhile, Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell also picked up an injury in the match and he's a concern ahead of their Premiership final clash with Exeter Chiefs next weekend.

"I don't know how serious it is," said Sarries director of rugby Mark McCall. "He's got a bang on the rib and you know ribs can go one way or another.

"Hopefully it goes the right way."

Omnisports

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