Former England coach Sir Clive Woodward has backed the decision of Stuart Lancaster to rule Manu Tuilagi out of contention for a place in his World Cup squad.

The 23-year-old was convicted on three charges of assault and one of criminal damage after an altercation with a taxi driver and two police officers, and as a result was ordered to pay a total of £6,205 in fines.

Lancaster made the announcement that the centre would not be selected for the tournament later this year, which has been supported by England's former World Cup-winning coach.

Woodward told the Daily Mail: "This is really serious stuff for the young man and the question for me is whether he will ever play for England again. It sounds very much as if he was lucky to escape a prison sentence for his actions in the latest incident.

"He has a lot of soul-searching to do because in many people's book it's a case of three counts and you're out. It is 100% the right decision by Stuart Lancaster to drop him from his World Cup squad.

"Lancaster has made precisely the right call here. Tuilagi has let himself, his club and his country down and will now have plenty of time to consider how foolish he's been. He'll be lucky to get another chance in an England shirt."

Tuliagi had previously punched Chris Ashton in 2011 and jumped off a ferry in Auckland during the World Cup in the same year.