England rugby star Manu Tuilagi was sent off for a brutal forearm to the face of an opponent in Sale Sharks' match against Northampton Saints.
The centre thrust his arm into the chin of Northampton winger Tommy Freeman inside the opening 15 minutes of the Gallagher Premiership clash as he carried the ball into contact. It left Freeman seemingly dazed as he dropped to his knees and needed medical treatment.
Tuilagi had been hoping to force his way back into the England side against Wales after being dropped for the opening Six Nations matches against Scotland and Italy. He now faces a significant ban for the blatant act of foul play.
BT Sport pundit Austin Healey said: "Oh dear. That is not good. It's not the carrying arm, that is a red card. He actually explodes into it. It is a red card, nothing else."
Tuialgi apologised to Freeman as he left the field.
Ahead of the match, Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson revealed Tuilagi was simmering about his England situation, saying: “Manu is all smiles but underneath I sense a simmering and he definitely wants to show the powers at be that they made the wrong decision in not selecting him. I would say he has a point to prove."
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