Tuilagi to miss Bok Test

London - England centre Manu Tuilagi will miss the upcoming November Tests at Twickenham because of a groin injury, his club Leicester have announced on Tuesday.

Tuilagi came off after 15 minutes of Saturday's 25-18 European Champions Cup victory over Ulster and will miss the games against New Zealand, South Africa, Samoa and Australia.

"I'd be very surprised if Manu plays any part in the autumn. He'll clearly be missing for a few weeks at a minimum," Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill said.

Tulaigi's injury is different to the groin injury that ruled him out of three Premiership games last month.

Cockerill added Tuilagi would not be rushed back to make the end of a November international campaign that England begin with a clash against the world champion All Blacks on November 8.

"Manu's had scans and we're still waiting for the exact prognosis. He won't be fit for the autumn internationals for sure," Cockerill said.

"You'd imagine it being four weeks plus before he's back on the field. He'll struggle to be involved.

"We had the England doctor in and everybody's aware of the situation. It's a continual dialogue.

"We know how good Manu is, he doesn't need to prove himself, he just needs to get himself fit. That's the key for me. If he's right and fit then he's as good as there is.

"It's not about him playing at the back end of the autumn, it's about him being fit and making sure he's 100 percent so he can come back and do what Manu does."

Tuilagi's absence is a blow to 2015 World Cup hosts England as they begin the run into next year's tournament and further complicates their longstanding problem in trying to field a settled centre combination.

England coach Stuart Lancaster is set to name his squad for the November campaign on Wednesday.