Six Nations 2022: England's Manu Tuilagi on his possible return against Wales

«I've got a small part to play.»

That is Manu Tuilagi's view on his role with England should he make his return from injury against Wales on Saturday.

England rugby fans — and indeed history — would beg to differ.

According to statistician Russ Pettyexternal-link, England's last home defeat with Tuilagi in the matchday squad was in November 2012.

As it often has, England's midfield struggled in the absence of Tuilagi in an opening-round defeat in Scotland.

With the hype building around the centre's return at Twickenham, BBC Radio 5 Live's Rugby Union Daily spoke to Tuilagi about why he now generally avoids using weights, sharing shortbread with Marcus Smith and a possible return against Wales.

While the 30-year-old has long been key to England's midfield, his repeated injuries have often been its undoing.

Tuilagi has been absent from the Six Nations so far because of his most recent issue: a hamstring problem sustained in November.

In a bid to reduce his chances of injury and keep up with the speed of the game, last summer Tuilagi decided he needed to lose some weight.

That meant, unlike his team-mates, he actively had to avoid the weights room rather than being encouraged to beef up.

«I don't really do much weights at the moment,» Tuilagi said.

«I put on mass quite quick. I think for me I do more body-weight [exercises] to make sure the bit I got injured is strong. In terms of lifting weights, not so much.»

Tuilagi is one of the more senior players in the squad but should still fit well with head coach Eddie Jones' plan for 'new England' centred around younger players like Smith and Freddie Steward.

As well as providing a battering ram through the opposition's defence, Tuilagi can offer a decoy to give star fly-half Smith space to