Denny Solomona admits that he will have to fight to earn back his place in the England squad after being sent home from a pre-season training camp for a late-night drinking session with Manu Tuilagi.

The pair were cut from the England camp in Teddington on August 7 by Eddie Jones, the head coach, after reportedly returning to the team hotel at 4.30am. As Steve Diamond, his director of rugby at Sale Sharks, succinctly put it, “He’s dropped a bollock and paid for it by being slung out of the squad.”

The 23-year-old winger had made his debut in the June tour to Argentina, scoring the match-winning try in the first Test. His contrition at letting down Jones, who had fast-tracked Solomona into international rugby after switching codes less than nine months ago, was obvious.

“It’s definitely not much fun,” Solomona said. “I’m disappointed with myself. It was out of character. I need to work hard now, let my rugby do the talking.

“Eddie isn’t the sort of person to keep you in a squad just because he wants you. You definitely have to earn the right and earn your spot. I need to continue to work hard and train hard and go from there.”