Manu Tuilagi returns to England squad for crunch Wales match

Manu Tuilagi returns to the 35-player England squad for Saturday’s Six Nations match against Wales.

The squad regrouped at the Honda England Rugby Performance Centre at Pennyhill Park in Bagshot this afternoon [Sunday] as they continue preparations for the Wales game, which will be played at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 26 February (4.45pm KO).

Saturday’s tie with Wales will be England’s first of the Six Nations campaign.

England will need to win their final three matches, starting with Wales at Twickenham on Saturday, to have a chance of claiming the title they have won three times under Eddie Jones and Lions second row Itoje said they were up for it.

“The title is our goal, our mindset,” said Itoje, who started in the back row against Italy in the last round but may return to lock against Wales with Courtney Lawes back in training. “We believe it is still very much in our hands.

Last time out, Marcus Smith inspired England to 0-33 victory in Rome against the Italians.

Last week, it was confirmed that Manu Tuilagi had returned to the training squad for England’s fallow week. England centre Manu Tuilagi is in “immense” physical shape and ready to return for the crunch Six Nations encounter with Wales on Saturday, says assistant coach Anthony Seibold.

Captain Courtney Lawes returns to the playing squad after being sidelined for over a month with concussion. Despite being a part of the group since the start of the Six Nations campaign, Lawes was yet to train fully with the group as he continued to recover from a blow to the head.

Joe Launchbury returns to the playing squad after returning to full fitness. There is also a spot for the exciting uncapped 21-year-old back row Alfie Barbeary.

Jonny Hill will also continue his rehab in camp.

The squad in full is:

FORWARDS
Alfie Barbeary (Wasps, uncapped)
Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 5 caps)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 33 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 38 caps)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 6 caps)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 28 caps)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 33 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 63 caps)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 53 caps)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 5 caps)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 69 caps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 90 caps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 76 caps)
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 11 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 49 caps)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 17 caps)

BACKS
Orlando Bailey (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
Elliot Daly (Saracens, 54 caps)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 79 caps)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 5 caps)
Louis Lynagh (Harlequins, uncapped)
Max Malins (Saracens, 12 caps)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 9 caps)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 36 caps)
Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons, 2 caps)
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 3 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 45 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 7 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 46 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 114 caps)