England squad to tour Australia: Manu Tuilagi included despite injury, Chris Ashton omitted

Tuilagi suffered the hamstring injury during Leicester's defeat by Saracens on Saturday

Tuilagi is expected to be out for around six weeks (Getty)

Manu Tuilagi has been included in England's squad for Australia despite sustaining a hamstring injury that threatens his participation in the tour.

Tuilagi incurred the injury during Leicester's defeat by Saracens in Saturday's Aviva Premiership semi-final at Allianz Park and it is understood the initial prognosis is that he will be sidelined for six weeks.

Owen Farrell, who suffered a rib problem in the same match, is also present and there are four uncapped players in the 32-strong squad selected for the three-Test series against the Wallabies.

Worcester centre Ben Te'o, Bristol prop Ellis Genge, Harlequins prop Kyle Sinckler and Northampton back row Teimana Harrison could make their England debuts next month.

Wing Chris Ashton is a shock exclusion from the touring party, which will be captained by Dylan Hartley.

"We are still a young squad with an average age of 24 so this will be a big learning experience," head coach Eddie Jones said.

"This will be the first time many of the players will have toured Australia so there's no historical baggage there and mentally we'll be in a good place off the back of the Six Nations."

England squad for three-test tour of Australia

Forwards (18): D Cole (Leicester), L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter), J Clifford (Harlequins), E Genge (Bristol), J George (Saracens), T Harrison (Northampton), D Hartley (Northampton, capt), J Haskell (Wasps), P Hill (Northampton), M Itoje (Saracens), G Kruis (Saracens), J Launchbury (Wasps), C Lawes (Northampton), M Mullan (Wasps), C Robshaw (Harlequins), K Sinckler (Harlequins), B Vunipola (Saracens), M Vunipola (Saracens)

Backs (14): M Brown (Harlequins), D Care (Harlequins), E Daly (Wasps), O Farrell (Saracens), G Ford (Bath), A Goode (Saracens), J Joseph (Bath), J Nowell (Exeter), H Slade (Exeter), B Te'o (Leinster), M Tuilagi (Leicester), A Watson (Bath), M Yarde (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester)

PA