Manu Tuilagi and Denny Solomona sent home from England training camp due to team culture issues

Tuilagi and Solomona missed the final session of their three-day gathering in Teddington having been disciplined for an incident described by the Rugby Football Union as "team culture issues".

It is understood the Leicester centre and Sale wing went out on Sunday evening and came back drunk, prompting head coach Eddie Jones to banish the pair back to the clubs.

Jones is to decide if further disciplinary action is required, casting a shadow over their international futures beginning with the autumn series against Argentina, Australia and Samoa.

"Denny Solomona and Manu Tuilagi have been sent home today from England's training camp following team culture issues. We will not be commenting further," an RFU statement read.

It is a particularly disappointing turn of events for Tuilagi, who was included in the 37-man squad as a step towards reclaiming his England place following four injury-blighted years.

The powerful 26-year-old has played only 17 minutes of Test rugby since Jones took charge in December 25 and his last start at Twickenham was over four-years ago, his career ravaged by serious knee and groin problems.

Jones cited the manner in which Tuilagi "demolished" New Zealand in a 38-21 victory in 2012 as the reason for continuing to invest time in a player who has spent so much time in rehabilitation.

"We're confident he's moving in the right direction, but he's still a hell of a long way away from playing Test rugby," Jones said on Friday.

"The more he works hard and diligently, the more chance he has of playing. It's nice to see him back training and back into it.

"He was a player that demolished New Zealand and we need those kinds of players.

"If he can get himself fit he can definitely make a strong return. If his motivation and desire are right, he can be an outstanding player for us."

However Tuilagi, who was expected to be fit for the start of Leicester's Aviva Premiership campaign, has suffered another self-inflicted setback in a career full of controversy.

Tuilagi is no stranger to disciplinary issues and owns a lengthy charge sheet including a conviction for assault, a five-week ban for punching England team-mate Chris Ashton and making bunny ears behind the back of former Prime Minister David Cameron.

Leicester responded to the development by issuing a statement in which head coach Matt O'Connor outlined his plan to discuss the matter with Tuilagi.

"This is particularly disappointing because Manu has worked so hard to get back to fitness after long-term injury and to get back into the England squad," O'Connor said.

"This matter has been dealt with by the RFU and we will talk to Manu on his return to the club."

Solomona also faces an anxious few weeks to see if the incident has placed a question mark over his international prospects.

The prolific rugby league wing made a promising Test debut against Argentina in June, his defensive frailties offset by a scorching solo try, and won a second cap a week later but he may now have slipped down the pecking order.

"This is disappointing news because Denny has worked so hard since joining the club last December," director of rugby Steve Diamond said in a statement issued by Sale.

"He hasn't had much time off and his performances earned him a place on the recent England tour to Argentina.

"This matter has been dealt with by the RFU and I will speak to Denny on his return to Carrington."

Manu Tuilagi controversies

Wins fight against deportation, June 2010

Tuiliagi was on the verge of being deported to his native Samoa in 2010 before the Home Office made a U-turn and allowed him to stay. The then 19-year-old had originally entered the country on a holiday visa six years earlier and had stayed on illegally. At the time, Tuilagi was a rising star in Leicester's academy and was expected to be handed a professional contract. After the successful appeal he was granted indefinite leave to remain.

Banned from Aviva Premiership final, May 2011

Forced to miss the 2011 Premiership final against Saracens after he was given a five-week ban for punching Northampton's Chris Ashton. Tuilagi had originally been banned for 10 weeks but that was reduced in light of a push by Ashton.

Sanctioned for wearing a sponsored mouthguard, October 2011

Fined £4,800 by World Rugby for wearing a sponsored mouthguard during the group win over Georgia at the 2011 World Cup. Tuilagi also wore the gumshield in the victory against Argentina and the Rugby Football Union described the breach as a "genuine error".

Detained by New Zealand police after ferry jump, October 2011

England's 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand was a miserable affair which was blighted by off-field controversy, which Tuilagi contributed to. In the aftermath of England's quarter-final defeat against France, Tuilagi was detained by New Zealand police and fined £3,000 by England rugby officials for jumping into Auckland harbour from a ferry.

Bunny ears, September 2013

In September 2013, Tuilagi issued an apology to Prime Minister David Cameron after he made a 'bunny ears' sign behind his back during a photograph taken outside 10 Downing Street. The successful British and Irish Lions squad that toured Australia, where Tuilagi played in the third Test, made an official visit, but the Leicester centre again hit the headlines for all of the wrong reasons.

Found guilty of assault, May 2015

Pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting a police officer, resulting in his removal from consideration for England selection until January 2016 - a period that included the World Cup - although his long-term groin injury rendered the suspension irrelevant. Tuilagi was fined £5,500 and ordered to pay £705 in costs when he appeared before magistrates in Leicester. The incident took place during a night out in Leicester city centre on April 26 and the player pleaded guilty to one count of assault by beating, one count of criminal damage and two counts of assaulting a police officer.

Sent home from England training camp, August 2017

Tuilagi and Solomona were sent home from England's summer training camp in Teddington on the grounds of what the RFU described as "team culture issues". Press Association Sport understands that both players were disciplined for drinking alcohol during the three-day gathering in south-west London.