England centre Manu Tuilagi was given his marching orders just 13 minutes into his return to Sale Sharks’ colours against Northampton Saints.
Tuilagi was released from England’s Six Nations squad and allowed to play for Sale in the Premiership, allowing him to press for selection.
Easy red card
Sale Sharks spun the ball out from a lineout to Tuilagi to crash into the Saints’ defence.
The centre thundered past the attempted tackle of Fraser Dingwall before being tackled by Fin Smith, with Dingwall backtracking to win the breakdown penalty for the Saints.
However, Tuilagi lifted his forearm up while being tackled by Smith and made contact with Freeman’s throat.
Referee Ian Tempest awarded Saints the penalty from the breakdown before being altered by TMO Claire Hodnett of the incident.
After a short review, Tempest and Hodnett agreed that Tuilagi’s actions required a red card and the centre was departed, apologising to Freeman while making his way off the pitch.
🟥 Manu Tuilagi's red card. #GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/V1Ct4XDDF1
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) February 18, 2023
In doubt for England
A regular fixture in Eddie Jones’ matchday squads, Tuilagi has not featured in either of Steve Borthwick’s two matches to date, with Owen Farrell starting in the midfield with Joe Marchant against Scotland. Farrell moved to flyhalf in the second Test, with Ollie Lawrence starting at inside centre against Italy with Henry Slade at outside.
His sending off further hampers his chances of featuring in the Six Nations this year, with a ban likely to rule him out.
He does not have the best disciplinary record. In 2011, while playing for Leicester Tigers, he was banned for ten weeks for punching Chris Ashton in the Premiership final against Northampton Saints.
In 2020, he copped a four-week ban for a dangerous tackle on George North in the Six Nations match against Wales.
England head to Cardiff in round three of the Six Nations to tackle Wales.
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