Manu Tuilagi will miss England’s Guinness Six Nations match against Ireland this Saturday and the head coach Eddie Jones faces a late call on Tom Curry’s fitness too, as he returns from concussion.
There was further bad news for England on Sunday as the RFU revealed that the No 8 Alex Dombrandt — who scored their only try in the 23-19 win over Wales last time out — tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday.
Tuilagi, 30, was not selected for this week’s England squad, having injured his hamstring in the build-up to the Wales match.
Jones had hoped he might be fit for the Ireland match, but the Sale Sharks centre has stayed with his club to continue his rehabilitation, having not managed to train