Stuart Lancaster ditches Manu Tuilagi

England will go into a World Cup campaign on home soil without star centre Manu Tuilagi after he pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting a police officer.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster announced that 23-year-old Tuilagi will not be considered for selection for the national elite playing squads until January 2016, meaning he will miss the World Cup later this year.

The Leicester player pleaded guilty to one count of assault by beating, one count of criminal damage and two counts of assaulting a police officer. The incident took place on April 26.