Tuilagi and Yarde Recalled for England

England backs Manu Tuilagi and Marland Yarde have both been restored into the England EPS squad ahead of Sunday’s vital RBS 6 Nations clash with Wales at Twickenham.

Both the Leicester centre and London Irish flyer have recovered from their respective pectoral and hip injuries that have prevented them from playing any part in the championship to date.

The three-quarter duo will arrive at England's training camp in Bagshot on Monday night, but neither player is likely to be involved against Wales.

Tuilagi made his long awaited Premiership return last weekend, as he featured heavily in the Tigers destruction of Newcastle at Kingston Park, after five months out of action.

Although the British and Irish Lion had a relatively quiet day by his high standards, there was enough in his performance to suggest he could return to the England line-up against Wales next Sunday if Lancaster decides to take the risk.

"I was excited to be back and wanted to play the whole 80 minutes," said Tuilagi. "I felt pretty good out there after all the training I have been doing and I've worked hard to get myself back to this point.

"I was pretty nervous and excited at the same time - just to get out there and get the feel of the rugby ball in my hands and to play again. It took a while for me to get the ball but I was straight back into it as far as defence was concerned.

"I'll be going down to training with the England boys tomorrow and we'll take it from there. The boys are doing really well and it'll be really good for me to just go down there and get settled back in there and take things from there.

"I spoke to Stuart last weekend and he said to come down after the game and train and we'll see how it goes. I knew that in the first game back I was bound to be nervous, but I just wanted that ball and I was happy with the first tackle and impact.

"If Stuart asks me if I'm ready to play I'll say 'absolutely'. Of course, I would be nervous but I always like to be nervous before a game, it keeps me on my toes. I feel I've knocked the rust off my game today. I would have liked to play the whole game and felt I could have."

Tuilagi may not have set the game alight but neither did he look like a player who has been out for so long, following a shoulder operation.

"It's been a long road back," he said. "It was a setback when they said it was really off the bone and needed an operation. They had to pull it back up and bolt it back and it took a while to heal.

"The five months have been really tough. I knew the injury was bad because I heard a little crack when it happened and I was really gutted, but that's rugby, you get injured and try to focus on the positives."