Manu Tuilagi will miss the rest of the rugby season with a knee injury, ruling the injury-plagued centre out of the England’s Six Nations title defence.

His club side Leicester have confirmed Tuilagi tore a ligament in Sunday’s domestic Premiership game against Saracens.

The 25-year-old Tuilagi has had severe groin trouble over the last two years and only managed one appearance for England in 2016.

Leicester said Tuilagi is facing a six-month recovery period so is likely to be out of contention for the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand in June and July.