Youngs laments Tuilagi blow

Editor

England's Ben Youngs has described the absence of Manu Tuilagi for the November Internationals as “a massive shame.”

England scrum-half Ben Youngs has described the loss of Manu Tuilagi for the November Internationals as “a massive shame.”

A report in the Leicester Mercury on Thursday revealed that Tuilagi will not undergo surgery on the injury, instead opting to rehabilitate the tear with a view to returning in December.

Youngs and Tuilagi were two of six Leicester Tigers players on the British and Irish Lions tour earlier this year.

Having both recently returned from injuries sustained in a gruelling 2012-2013 campaign, Tuilagi made an instant impact when his impressive carry set up a try for Graham Kitchener against Newcastle last weekend.

However the England centre tore a pectoral muscle in the 31-6 win that will now keep him out of the November Internationals, with Youngs expressing his disappointment at the loss for both Leicester and England.

“Manu had only just come back and he was hungry to get back into it,” Youngs told the Leicester Mercury.

“It's a shame to see him go out and miss matches but injuries happen in our sport. There are a lot of games in a season and that catches up with you sometimes.

“It's a massive shame for him and us. He showed with that one carry (leading up to Graham Kitchener's try) what he can do.

“If he can build that sort of anger up while he is out, it will be fun to see what he can do when he gets back.”

Youngs also spoke out over the loss of flanker Tom Croft, another Lions tourist, who will miss the rest of the season after rupturing a cruciate ligament in his knee.

“It was really frustrating for Tom. He had that big injury to his neck, came back and started getting some momentum, so it is really hard for him to deal with this,” added Youngs.

“But he is surrounded by good guys and coaches who will make sure he is all right.

“He is just resting at the minute and there's not much more he can do. They will give him some time off to get his head right more than anything.

“When you come back from a long injury and then get another, you probably need some time away from the game to get your hunger back.”