I’d have missed the Rugby World Cup anyway, says England’s Tuilagi

England centre Manu Tuilagi has sought to restore his reputation by outlining his version of the events that led to his conviction for assaulting two female police officers

Tuilagi feels he has been punished unfairly after being advised to “own up to what I’ve not done” and revealed that he would have missed the World Cup anyway because of his recurring groin injury.

The 24-year-old was suspended until January by England head coach Stuart Lancaster once he was found guilty at Leicester Magistrates court in mid May of two counts of assaulting a police officer, assault by beating and causing criminal damage.