England's plans for the Six Nations have been dealt another blow after Manu Tuilagi was almost certainly ruled out of the tournament following a setback in his recovery from a long-term groin injury.
The Leicester centre sustained a groin problem in October and missed the Autumn Internationals, although he was at one point expected to return before Christmas. Complications during rehabilitation mean he has been unable to set a comeback date and could miss the entire Six Nations.
The 23-year-old did not rule himself out of the tournament, which begins on February 6th, but admitted a return by the end of that month might be the best possible outcome. Leicester had targeted a comeback in January but the player stated that he did not want to rush his return.
“It’s slow,” Tuilagi said. “I had three prolotherapy injections, sugar to try to bring the pubis back together. It’s slow but it’s getting there. No one’s really sure how long it’s going to take. When it first happened even the doctor said it would be six to eight weeks.”
Tuilagi does not believe surgery on the injury will be an option but the 23-year-old Samoa-born centre has undertaken a series of injections to the groin.
Asked when he could return, Tuilagi said: “I’m not sure. With this you have to just take it day by day and make sure it’s better before you try to come back. There are good days and bad days. Some days it feels brilliant and you wake up the next day and it doesn’t feel so good.
“[The end of February is] ideal but, as I said, I have to get this right. It’s not like a sprained ankle you can strap up and get on with it. I have to make sure that, if I need to take another week or two, I’ll take it.
“The World Cup is in the back of your mind. But for me I’m not worried about anything else but trying to get fit and then playing for Leicester and hopefully for England.”
It is the latest blow for Stuart Lancaster, who will name his Six Nations squad tomorrow. The England head coach will be without Courtney Lawes for the opening two matches after the Northampton second-row underwent an ankle operation and another lock, Joe Launchbury of Wasps, will miss the whole tournament following neck surgery.
Uncapped players
New Zealand-born Gareth Anscombe looks set to be named in the Wales squad for this season’s championship. The Cardiff Blues outhalf could be among three uncapped players announced by Wales head coach Warren Gatland on Tuesday.
With Ken Owens and Emyr Phillips both currently out injured, Gatland’s choice of a back-up hooker to Richard Hibbard and Scott Baldwin looks likely to be between 20-year-old Dragons forward Elliot Dee and the Ospreys’ Sam Parry.
Anscombe’s selection, though, will command most attention. The 23-year-old, son of former Ulster coach Mark and whose mother was born in Wales, has made just nine appearances for the Blues since joining them from the Chiefs earlier this season.
Scotland and Glasgow outhalf Duncan Weir will miss the Six Nations and be sidelined for up to four months after undergoing surgery on his right bicep.
Lock Wenceslas Lauret has been called up in the France squad to replace the injured Charles Ollivon. Bayonne number eight Ollivon picked up a shoulder injury in a Challenge Cup game against La Rochelle on Saturday and is likely to be out of action for two weeks. Guardian Service
