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Manu Tuilagi assault charge rules him out of World Cup

Roar Guru
15th May, 2015
16

Leicester and England centre Manu Tuilagi was involved in an altercation with a taxi driver and a police officer a few weeks ago. A report on the RFU website says the player admitted to three charges of assault, one of criminal damage, and has been fined as a result.

The upshot is that England coach Stuart Lancaster has said Tuilagi will not be considered for a World Cup slot and will only come into contention again in January 2016.

A run of injuries has meant that Tuilagi has actually played very rarely for England over the last two years. He will not feature again this season for his club, and it was beginning to look like he might not be ready in time for the tournament.

Leicester coach Richard Cockerill said recently that he expected Tuilagi to return but we now know that he was probably aware of the charges hanging over the player and had to choose his words carefully.

Jonathan Joseph of Bath has been the form outside centre in Tuilagi’s absence, and credited with giving England more of a cutting edge. It was by no means certain that Tuilagi would walk back into his old position but it was widely expected that he would make the squad.

Joseph was recently named Player’s Player, as well a England Player of the Year, at the Rugby Players’ Association awards, so Lancaster has good midfield options. However, Tuilagi’s power will certainly be missed, and the coach will have to decide what combinations he wants to take to the World Cup.

Joseph, Brad Barritt, Luther Burrell, Kyle Eastmond and Billy Twelvetrees have played in the centre in recent games. Henry Slade and Elliot Daly have also looked good for their clubs, while Sam Burgess may offer power if Lancaster wants it.

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