Alex Sanderson has called for a sit-down with England following this year's Six Nations in order to reach a resolution on how best to manage the fitness of Manu Tuilagi.
The Sale Sharks centre is one of Eddie Jones ' most valuable assets but has struggled with injuries throughout most of his career.
Tuilagi initially returned to England's XV for Saturday's Six Nations win over Wales but was ruled out of the squad hours later after he suffered a recurrence of the hamstring injury that sidelined him in November.
The 30-year-old has been sent back to his Premiership employers ahead of a three-day England training camp in Bristol, and Sale director of rugby Sanderson wants better alignment when managing the star.
"It was probably just a little bit too far, a little bit too soon," he told reporters. "We’ve spoken to Eddie and liaised with England’s physios and S&C [strength and conditioning] staff.
"We’re all on the same page and we need to catch up post-Six Nations to understand how we can potentially manage it better. But we’re struggling to see how we can at the moment, apart from it being too much too soon.
"You can look and delve into things and go down rabbit holes, but sometimes you can see ghosts which aren’t actually there. It’s important to understand that.
"The reason why we want to sit down together is over concern for the player. It’s not over grey areas. I just want us to be on the same page."
Which team do you think will win the 2022 Six Nations? Let us know in the comments section.
It's an awkward position for club bosses when a talismanic talent like Tuilagi is injured on international duty, torn between their own selfish desires and wanting what's best for the national team, as well as the player.
The midfielder tore his hamstring in the process of scoring an early try in the autumn win over South Africa, but Jones is under pressure given no other England player can quite offer his skill set.
Tuilagi was set to be thrown in at the deep end after being named to start against Wales in his first appearance of this year's Six Nations, despite having only played 80 minutes for his club thus far in 2022.
"There are email trails and phone calls. Everyone speaks to everyone," Sanderson continued. "There are probably seven, eight or nine conversations going on at the same time. For me, it’s better just to get everyone in the same room.
"There is only one Manu Tuilagi and loads of us coaches. This is about Manu and I want him to play for England like everyone else does."
The Twickenham showdown with Wales would have been Tuilagi's first Six Nations appearance in a little less than two years, having left Leicester Tigers to join Sale in that time since.
It's now highly uncertain as to whether the player will be risked against Ireland when England return to action on March 12, but his chances of facing France in the closing fixture seven days later appear brighter.
Sanderson insisted a positive outlook is important when a player encounters such setbacks, however, highlighting the need to identify the good, as well as acknowledging the bad.
"The positives are that he’ll be back in a week or two, he’s in great form, he’s positive himself," the Sale chief added.
"He’s probably in the shape of his life. He’s definitely got two or three years ahead of him, so this is just a little hurdle.
"When you reframe it like that, you start to look forward until the next year and half until the World Cup as opposed to looking back.”
England confirmed Saracens utility Elliot Daly—who filled in at outside centre in the win over Wales—was also left out of England's 25-man training camp in Bristol, while Harlequins ' Joe Marchant is included.
