England's Manu Tuilagi is expected to miss the start of the 2024 Six Nations owing to a groin injury picked up while representing Sale Sharks.
The 32-year-old sustained a grade three tear during Sale's 22-20 Gallagher Premiership victory over Saracens last Friday, coming off the field with 42 minutes on the board.
Tuilagi was a fundamental player for England at the 2023 World Cup, starting all six games in France and registering one try in their quarter-final beating of Fiji.
However, the former Leicester Tigers man has effectively been ruled out of the opening stage of the 2024 Six Nations by Alex Sanderson, who has admitted that Tuilagi will be unlikely to make the cut for England's opener against Italy on February 3.
Speaking to the media, Sanderson said: "Manu has pulled his groin and doesn't need an operation and we think he will be back during the Six Nations but not for the first week of it.
"He has suffered a grade linear muscle tear of an adductor in the groin. Grade four is serious and grade two is not so serious and so it is somewhere in between.
"The Six Nations is not too far away and he will be back. I spoke to him and he said he needs to play and then it will be up to England. He was in the frame and he has already stated is intent to keep playing international rugby.
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"Six weeks is the recommended time for the injury and Manu is saying four. I haven't been told it's a recurring injury and he has had issues with his hamstring in the past and it is all connected with the pelvic girdle.
"There was no indications on the field and he just felt it early in the second half and is that aware of his body that he called over the physio and said something has gone here. He is a little bit wiser.
"I saw him this morning and I said: 'Look, they [the media] are going to ask, what do you want me to say?' And he said: 'Just tell them what you want to tell them.' He trusts me on that front.
"I'm like: 'What do you want to do? Do you want to play international rugby? Does this affect your motivation?' And he said: 'I just want to play. If they [England] pick me, I'm good to go.' So he's already future-focused in terms of him getting back and getting on the field."
While Tuilagi stands to miss England's trip to Rome on February 3, he could push to return when Steve Borthwick's men host Wales at Twickenham seven days later, or failing that the showdown with Scotland at Murrayfield on February 24.
The 32-year-old has turned out 60 times for England in all competitions, and he formed a part of his country's 2016 and 2020 Six Nations and Triple Crown-winning squads.
England will already be without captain Owen Farrell for next year's tournament as he takes a break from international duty to prioritise his mental health, while Tuilagi's Sale teammate Bevan Rodd is also out of contention due to toe surgery.
Ben Knapton
