England centre Manu Tuilagi will miss the start of the 2024 Six Nations with a groin problem that he suffered for Sale in last weekend's victory over Saracens.
The hard hitting 32-year-old came off in the early part of the second half with a grade three tear and will spend six weeks on the sidelines, although he has avoided requiring surgery so may appear in the latter part of the Championship – which concludes in mid March.
But after Tuilagi played such a pivotal role during the World Cup in the midfield alongside Joe Marchant, who is also unavailable as he is now playing rugby in France with Stade Francais, Steve Borthwick will again have to rethink his strongest starting XV with fly-half Owen Farrell taking a break from international rugby.
“Manu has pulled his groin and we think he's going to be back during the Six Nations, but not for the first week,” Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson said.
“I spoke to him and he's like ‘I need to play and if I'm good to play it's up to England regarding selection'.
“He was in the frame before and I've stated before his intent to keep playing international rugby.
“Six weeks is the recommended time for the injury and Manu is saying four.”
It will be the fourth tournament in a row where the injury-plagued centre won't be able to play the opening game, having had to go off in only the 16th minute of the first match of the 2020 edition – the year before his run of bad luck began.
Tuilagi's club teammate Bevan Rodd will miss the whole tournament after undergoing toe surgery.
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