Tuilagi Cited for Care Tip Tackle

England centre Manu Tuilagi has been cited for a 'tip tackle', putting his South Africa tour place in jeopardy.

The Rugby Football Union announced the decision to cite Tuilagi, 21, on Monday evening.

The charge relates to a tackle by the Leicester powerhouse on Harlequins' scrum-half Danny Care during Saturday's Aviva Premiership final at Twickenham.

If the charge is proved, a ban could ruled the centre out of the three-Test tour of South Africa.

In a statement, the RFU said: "Manusamoa Tuilagi, of Leicester Tigers, has been cited for a 'tip tackle' on Harlequins' Danny Care during the Aviva Premiership final at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, May 27.

"Tuilagi has been charged with a breach of Law 10.4 (j) following a report by the citing officer John Byett and will appear at the Bristol Filton Holiday Inn on Tuesday, May 29 (8pm). The case will be heard by a single RFU judicial officer, Christopher Quinlan QC."

The England squad leave for South Africa on Wednesday, playing Tests against the Springboks in Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth, plus two midweek fixtures.

Tuilagi is a key part of England head coach Stuart Lancaster's plans, but he could land a minimum three-week suspension.

The hard-running centre, one of England's outstanding performers during the RBS 6 Nations campaign, is no stranger to controversy.

He was banned for 10 weeks after punching Northampton and England wing Chris Ashton during a Premiership semi-final at Welford Road last season, although that suspension was reduced to five weeks on appeal.

And during England's ill-fated World Cup campaign in New Zealand last autumn, Tuilagi received a £3,000 fine for jumping from a ferry into Auckland Harbour and a £4,800 punishment from the International Rugby Board for wearing a sponsored mouthguard during the tournament.

Lancaster Handles Squad with Care

Danny Care has been recalled to the England set-up by coach Stuart Lancaster, who has named a 42-man squad to go to South Africa on 31 May.

Harlequins scrum-half Care, 25, was dropped from the Six Nations after he was charged with drink-driving.

Lancaster said: "Danny Care needed to reassure me he can lead himself well off the field.

"I am pleased with the maturity he is showing - but he knows he is treading a fine line."

He added: "I spoke to the solicitor involved in the Danny Care case and there'll be nothing happening during the tour. We understand the context of what happened and we are happy with the selection."

Care - who missed the 2011 World Cup through injury - last played for England against Wales last August and was arrested four times in three months earlier this year.

James Haskell and Ugo Monye have also returned to the squad while Chris Robshaw is named as captain. Uncapped Tom Youngs is selected while youngsters Christian Wade and Joe Launchbury are also included.

Haskell, 27, missed out on the Six Nations after choosing to play in Japan, but has been given a chance to impress, with fellow flankers Tom Croft and Tom Wood out injured.

Lancaster has also drafted in Bath flanker Carl Fearns and Exeter loose forward Tom Johnson.

Northampton lock Courtney Lawes is another absentee through injury, while Saints team-mate Dylan Hartley returns after his eight-week ban for biting.

Lancaster said: "Dylan Hartley has credit in the bank. He is in the best shape he has ever been and sometimes a break is not a bad thing.

"We work hard on our discipline and we will have to reduce our penalty count - that's not just about Dylan. It's not just an issue for one person. It's one for the whole team.

"We'll make sure Dylan gets that message as well. We'll be having a strong conversation with him. We have to be able to trust the players"

There are 13 uncapped players in total with Tom Youngs included as one of four hookers, even though he has never started a Premiership match in that position.

The converted centre has made 12 bench appearances for Leicester and will compete with first choice Hartley, Lee Mears and the uncapped Harlequin Joe Gray for the hooker's jersey.

Youngs will join his scrum-half brother Ben in the senior England squad for the first time and he is joined by Tigers team-mate Graham Kitchener as a fellow England newcomer.

The England head coach added: "We see no reason to deviate from our philosophy of development. I've seen a lot of the young players, working with them in the Saxons.

"It's about adapting to the pressure of a South Africa tour and building team toughness. It's about managing the goldfish bowl experience. It gives us, as coaches, the chance to work with the players."

England play two midweek matches against SA Barbarians South on 13 June and SA Barbarians North on 19 June.

The three Tests take place on 9, 16 and 23 June.

Forwards (23): Mouritz Botha (Saracens), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Paul Doran Jones (Northampton Saints), Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints), Carl Fearns (Bath Rugby), Joe Gray (Harlequins), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), James Haskell (Otago Highlanders), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Lee Mears (Bath Rugby), Ben Morgan (Scarlets), Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors), Tom Palmer (Stade Francais), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), Chris Robshaw (capt, Harlequins), George Robson (Harlequins), Matt Stevens (Saracens), Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers), Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Backs (19): Anthony Allen (Leicester Tigers), Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins) Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), Ben Foden (Northampton Saints), Alex Goode (Saracens), Charlie Hodgson (Saracens), Jonathan Joseph (London Irish), George Lowe (Harlequins), Ugo Monye (Harlequins), David Strettle (Saracens), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins), Christian Wade (London Wasps), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

OSM news service

O'Shea Pledges Care for Danny

Harlequins director of rugby Conor O'Shea pledged his backing for Danny Care after the out-of-favour England scrum-half helped his side to a 14-6 Aviva Premiership home victory over Bath.

O'Shea kept faith with Care, who has been questioned and bailed by West Yorkshire police over an alleged sexual assault on a woman in Leeds earlier this month. He denies the allegation. Care, previously dropped from the England squad following a drink driving conviction, has already accepted a police caution for being drunk and disorderly that night.

O'Shea said: "I was never going to leave him out. Danny's made his mistakes, they are well documented. He's learning from his mistakes. What he has to understand is that he will be an easy target and we are absolutely supporting him in this case."

O'Shea insisted that the club are supporting the player, adding: "There's plenty of stuff we've put around Danny that he's working on, both from technical scrum-half play to lifestyle. We are absolutely behind him."

O'Shea also defended Maurie Fa'asavalu, Quins' Samoa World Cup flanker. 

The former St Helens rugby league player scored the only try of the match before being yellow-carded by referee Wayne Barnes for an illegal challenge on Bath's teenage fly-half Tom Heathcote.

Bath rugby director Sir Ian McGeechan, who revealed that Heathcote suffered a whiplash injury when Fa'asavalu charged into him without using his arms in the tackle, said: "I hope the citing officer is looking after it. He (Heathcote) is 20. We've got to look after these boys."

But O'Shea said: "My immediate thoughts are to have a long, hard look at it. I haven't seen it in slow motion but he comes in to make a dominant hit, he does try to get his arms out and around but Tom Heathcote is falling. The referee saw what happened and deemed it a yellow card.

"People who know Mo, both from St Helens days and from here, know he's not a loose cannon going round the pitch. He's an incredibly physical bloke but he's not a dangerous player."

Victory restored Harlequins to the top of the Premiership less than 24 hours after reigning champions Saracens deposed them with a 45-9 win at Sale. But Bath pushed them all the way. Only a knock-on by winger Ollie Woodburn before he touched down denied them a 54th-minute try when they were 6-3 ahead.

McGeechan said: "I think we could have won it on another day. A try then would probably have seen us away."

McGeechan was also unhappy with the yellow card shown to Bath's replacement fullback Jack Cuthbert, judged to have challenged Mike Brown in the air as the Quins' fullback collected a high kick. McGeechan, who claimed Brown's feet had touched the floor before the tackle, added: "A couple of decisions were against us. His feet were on the ground but the referee's got to make an instant decision.

"The critical ones like that cost us, Quins scored the points when Jack went off so it wasn't the best timing in trying to keep the momentum in our game. Quins are a good side - that's why they are top of the league - but I thought we looked a good side today."

Care Questioned by West Yorks Police

Rugby player Danny Care has been questioned about an alleged sexual assault on a woman in Leeds.

The 25-year-old Harlequins scrum-half was arrested following an incident in the early hours of Sunday, 4 March.

He has already accepted a police caution for being drunk and disorderly on that night after he was arrested for urinating outside the Queens Hotel.

He was bailed after being questioned last week in connection with the alleged assault, which he denies.

A spokesman for Harlequins said: "Danny Care was asked to report to West Yorkshire Police in Leeds to answer further questions about the incident that took place in the city on 3 March.

"On 15 March Danny attended Leeds Police Station voluntarily by appointment to assist the police with their inquiries. He denies the allegations made against him.

"Harlequins are fully aware of all the facts and will continue to support Danny as he addresses this situation."

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "A 25-year-old man, from Surrey, was arrested in connection with a sexual assault on a woman in Leeds in the early hours of Sunday, 4 March.

"He has been bailed pending further inquiries."

In January, Care was fined a total of £3,100 and banned from driving for 16 months after pleading guilty to drinking and driving in the early hours of New Year's Day.

Danny Needs to Take Care

Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care was arrested and cautioned on Sunday for a third drink-related incident in three months.

The 25-year-old, who was dropped from the England squad by interim head coach Stuart Lancaster after his previous misdemeanours, was found urinating against a building by the British Transport Police following a night out in Leeds.

Care, though, insisted the incident was down to "a small bladder [rather] than excessive drinking".

He was quoted in the Daily Mail as saying: "After an evening out with friends in the centre of Leeds, after a long time queuing, I was in a taxi home when I got caught short and asked the taxi driver to pull over so I could relieve myself behind a nearby building.

"The British Transport Police found me doing that and took me to the nearest police station where I was released with a caution.

"I understand the link that will be made to previous offences but, as with my fine in December in Weybridge, the issue is more one of a small bladder than excessive drinking.

Setback

"I am working hard on and off the pitch to overcome my issues and while this is another small setback I will continue to do that."

Care was fined a total of £3,100 and banned from driving for 16 months after pleading guilty to drink-driving in the early hours of New Year's Day

That incident came three weeks after he had been fined by police for being drunk and disorderly.

The latest arrest will be an embarrassment to Care, who has vowed to put his off-field issues behind him.

A spokesman for British Transport Police said: "Shortly after 3am on Sunday 4 March, British Transport Police received reports of a man urinating on the steps of the Queens Hotel near Leeds rail station.

"Officers attended and arrested a 25-year-old man in connection with the incident.

"He was later questioned and given a caution for being drunk and disorderly."

Care Out in The English Cold

Danny Care will be left out of England's Six Nations squad after his second alcohol-related misdemeanour in a month.

The 25-year-old scrum-half was arrested for drink driving on New Year's Eve - three weeks after he was picked up for being drunk and disorderly following Harlequins' 21-10 Heineken Cup defeat by Toulouse.

On that occasion Care was released without charge and paid a fixed penalty charge - while he was also fined by his club.

Care, though, is now set to appear in court on January 16.

Interim head coach Stuart Lancaster will now not consider Care for either his 32-man elite performance squad or the Saxons when they are announced on January 11.

Care was forced to miss the World Cup after suffering a foot injury in the build up to the tournament.

But having rediscovered his best for for table-topping Harlequins, he was expected to start the Six Nations as first-choice scrum-half.

However Lancaster has now met with Care and told him his behaviour is not what is expected of an England international.

Lancaster, who worked with Care during their time together at Leeds, has taken the hardline approach in a bid to avoid any repeat of the off-field antics that dogged England during the World Cup.

Lancaster said: "I have met Danny and told him that he will not be considered for selection for the Senior or Saxons Elite Player Squads that are due to be announced on the 11th January for the forthcoming Six Nations campaign.

"This is his second arrest in three weeks for alcohol related offences and it is completely unacceptable. We will monitor his progress from this event through Harlequins and we have every confidence in the club to support him in the right way.

"At such a time that we feel he can be trusted to behave appropriately on and off the field then he will be reconsidered for selection, but this will not be until the conclusion of the Six Nations as a minimum."

Although disappointed by the decision, Care has accepted the punishment and vowed to bounce back.

In a statement issued via his agents at Big Red Management, Care said: "I do accept that I made a very bad decision on the evening in question and need to take the punishment that the courts hand out.

"I have decided not to contest the charge as I want to bring this to a close swiftly rather than have it hanging over my head for a year or more.

"I would stress though that at no time did I think I had drunk enough to be over the legal limit. However I should not have got into the car and have to accept the consequences of that action.

"I am devastated not to be selected for the Elite Player Squad for the Six Nations as I felt I had been playing near the top of my game with Quins.

"However I wish the team, and the other number nines who come in to play, the best of luck as playing for your country is the highest honour in the game and I will miss it hugely. It's now up to me to get my head down, keep playing well and learn from my actions.

"Quins and Stuart have been very supportive and I totally accept their sanctions.

"I do understand the need for England players to be role models in the game and have tried to live up to that at all times, but have made a couple of stupid decisions in the past weeks.

"I can only hope for the chance in the future to prove those decisions were the exception not the rule. I am devastated because my actions have let so many people down."

Harlequins director of rugby Conor O'Shea told BBC Radio 5 live: "I think Stuart has done the right thing and I support the RFU completely and entirely."

O'Shea said that Care's behaviour was "inexcusable" but added that Harlequins would support a player who he described as a "really, really good guy".

"He made a very, very bad decision and, on top of one a few weeks back, he's going to pay a very, very high penalty," O'Shea added.

"He has been tainted and brings that on himself. He's not trying to hide behind anything. He's fronted up very quickly."

Last month, Lancaster, who nurtured Care's development when in charge of the Leeds academy, was named interim England coach for the Six Nations, which begins on 4 February.