• Leicester centre will be out for at least 12 weeks after damaging ligaments • Dan Biggar agrees to join Northampton from Ospreys next season

Manu Tuilagi’s prospects of an England comeback this autumn have suffered another blow after it emerged he is set to undergo knee surgery this week. It is understood the Leicester centre tore knee ligaments in the defeat by Bath on Sunday and needs a minor operation that will sideline him for at least 12 weeks, ruling him out of the autumn internationals.

Tuilagi’s career has been increasingly dogged by injury, with a more serious knee injury in January forcing him to spend seven months out. He scored a try on his return against Bath but faces a three-month period out of the game.

Eddie Jones will give Manu Tuilagi final chance to prove himself for England Read more

He already has some ground to make up with Jones having been sent home early from an England training squad last month following a late-night drinking episode. This week Jones suggested the door was still open for the 26-year-old to feature against Australia, Argentina and Samoa in November but warned that Tuilagi would be spending “a lot more time in the Midlands” if he did not improve his discipline.

Of more immediate concern for the player and his club is getting him back on the field. Tuilagi’s strength and dynamism has long been his calling card but over the last three years his body has shown increasing signs of letting him down.

Dan Biggar gives shellshocked Saints a boost



Northampton believe Dan Biggar will help propel the club back to the top of the Premiership following the Wales fly‑half’s decision to move to England next season on a three-year deal at Franklin’s Gardens. The 27-year-old has rejected an improved offer to remain at the Ospreys on a national dual contract with the Welsh Rugby Union blaming market forces for the relocation of another senior international player.

Biggar will join his compatriot George North at Saints, with Taulupe Faletau, Liam Williams, Ross Moriarty, Jamie Roberts, Luke Charteris, Tomas Francis and Rhys Priestland also playing their club rugby across the Severn Bridge. Northampton, however, are delighted by the switch with the club’s director of rugby, Jim Mallinder, describing Biggar as “a real world-class player”.

Northampton, whose two most experienced fly-halves Stephen Myler and Piers Francis are injured, would love to have Biggar available now and Mallinder is backing the seasoned playmaker, who has won 56 caps and was a member of the 2017 Lions squad, to make a real difference.

“We think Dan Biggar is one of the best in the world,” Mallinder said. “He is not only skilful but I like his attitude. That desire to win and to be a winner at the top level. As a person he’s fantastic and as a competitor he’s a fighter. He’ll be good for us. You want leaders in your teams. Look at Owen Farrell, for example, you see what a leader he is driving Saracens. Your half‑backs are key to that and that’s why he is such a good signing for us.”

Biggar, who was named the man of the match in Wales’s memorable World Cup win against England in 2015 when he contributed 23 points, made his Test debut in 2008 and is sixth on his country’s all-time list of points-scorers. He said he would continue to give everything for club and country this season but acknowledged he was ready for a change. “It’s extremely exciting to start a new chapter of my career with a club that shares my ambition to win trophies,” he said. “This is an opportunity for me and my family to experience rugby in a different environment and playing in a town and surrounding area which has a massive passion for rugby was a huge attraction.”

Eddie Jones will give Manu Tuilagi final chance to prove himself for England Read more

Northampton supporters badly needed some upbeat news following their opening weekend at Twickenham when they conceded 50 points against Saracens. Mallinder anticipates a vigorous response from his players against Leicester in Saturday’s derby. “I think you’ll see a knee-jerk reaction,” he said. “I’ll be so disappointed if the players don’t react. It’s been a difficult week and it should be after a performance like that. We were terrible. We came off a poor second.”

Mallinder and Northampton’s new chief executive, Mark Darbon have insisted there is no panic at board level following the Saracens embarrassment. “The board has always been 100% supportive and I’ve never had any debate,” Mallinder said.

“There will be a time, I’m sure, when the board will decide – or I will decide – that it is time for a change but I’m in no place to move anywhere. The board are fully supportive and have given me exactly what I want. We are together. The Dan Biggar signing shows how we are positive and looking to the future.”

Darbon, who joined the club this summer, also indicated they still have faith in Mallinder and his coaching staff: “Everyone at the club is disappointed with the start but it is one game. We are focusing on this weekend and what is to come.”