Manu Tuilagi joins England squad ahead of crucial Wales clash

Tuilagi has been included in a group of 33 players who have assembled in Bath to begin preparations for the title showdown against Warren Gatland's men at Twickenham on March 12.

It is the Leicester centre's first appearance in an England squad since the 2014 summer to New Zealand after a serious groin injury sidelined him for 15 months.

Meanwhile, England full-back Mike Brown has escaped a citing for the incident that left Conor Murray requiring stitches to a wound in his head in Saturday's 21-10 victory over Ireland.

Brown kicked Murray after repeatedly swinging his boot in an attempt to dislodge the ball from the hands of the prone Munster scrum-half, whose match was ended with nine minutes remaining in order that he could receive treatment.

A statement issued by Six Nations organisers outlining the disciplinary cases arising from the weekend revealed that Brown had avoided any action being taken for an act that was reviewed at the time on the big screen by referee Romain Poite.

Tuilagi's return is a frightening prospect for England's remaining opponents with Jones's side having already built up a great deal of momentum in the Championship. While the explosive back has had his disciplinary issues in the past, if Jones can get the best out of him then England know what kind of talent they have back in the ranks. His return could just provide the spark to take England all the way this year.